Occupy Griffintown: Activating Public Space

From a ghost town to a sleeping town? Griffintown was, up to recently, a forgotten neighbourhood in Montreal. The locals often referred to it as a “ghost town” due to the deterioration of the built environment. Although this image is not necessarily flattering, urban ruins are celebrated during walking tours, acting as collective memory anchors.The neighbourhood is now facing rapid housing development because of its proximity to the downtown core. With an increasing number of residents moving in and the (inevitable?) destruction of the existing fabric, the neighbourhood’s identity is shifting. While revitalization is often associated with building anew, could buildings and infrastructure in their actual state (more or less decaying) be useful for the creation of a new identity? Mobile public space activating four sites is proposed as a way to give residents of Griffintown the opportunity to participate in the creation of alternative public spaces.