Quebec's Hydro acquires La Miséricorde Hospital's former property

In a significant move, Hydro-Québec has purchased the site of the former Hôpital de la Miséricorde for $15 million. The acquired location will be used to install an electrical substation to serve the downtown area, which is experiencing a growing demand due to the arrival of new residential complexes.

The project for the Electrical Switching Facility at the former Hôpital de la Miséricorde involves electrical engineers, project managers, local construction companies, and municipal authorities overseeing the development. Hydro-Québec is in communication with the Electrical Services Commission to coordinate the work.

The site will house a "pivot substation," a term used to describe the centralised hub for power distribution and transmission. The current Berri substation will be maintained in operation, with the new facility aiming to alleviate the strain on the existing infrastructure.

Hydro-Québec has abandoned its controversial project envisioned on the adjacent land to the Grande Bibliothèque. Instead, the company has considered another site for its power station, the former Miséricorde Hospital.

To ensure social acceptability, Hydro-Québec intends to consult with heritage defense groups, community organizations, and citizens. Sylvain Côte, a member of the Association citoyenne du Village de Montréal, welcomes the Hydro-Québec project favorably. However, Taiyka Baillargeon, the Deputy Director of Policies at Heritage Montreal, believes that it will be necessary to closely monitor the progress of the file, as it has an element of uncertainty.

Hydro-Québec's CEO, Michael Sabia, is set to leave the company, with his departure scheduled for the beginning of July. The remuneration of the CEO, including bonuses, could reach $1 million, with Claudine Bouchard potentially earning $988,500.

One concern for Hydro-Québec is the underground work required to bury cables connecting the Berri station to the new equipment on René-Lévesque Boulevard. The City will launch a major project in this sector in January, which could potentially complicate the process.

The electrical substation project will occupy approximately half of the site and will be entirely interior. The price paid by Hydro-Québec ($15 million) is comparable to the price assumed by Alta, as the transaction included a $6.3 million mortgage. The former hospital site was previously sold to Alta Canada for $8.5 million in May.

As Hydro-Québec moves forward with its plans for the former Hôpital de la Miséricorde, it remains committed to engaging with the community and ensuring the project is executed with minimal disruption and maximum benefit to the city.