The Benny Farm Condemned Housing Projects

EvilGentleman: 4th Jul 2006 - 13:30 GMT

Thanks for the warning. I'm so used to asbestos, I forget to think about it. PCB's as well.

Chris Erb: 4th Jul 2006 - 15:56 GMT

I'm looking for an apartment in Montreal for the Fall. Maybe I will have to look into these, they look very beautiful (and cheap!)

joey: 4th Jul 2006 - 20:14 GMT

what a long, strange trip to the posturban soul of montreal

GUS BRENNAN: 8th Jul 2006 - 11:59 GMT

great photo shoot, loved the sign above the door, about agents, peddlers, and soliciters, nice to know that soliciters, have never risen in esteem, above agents or peddlers...!!

EvilGentleman: 9th Jul 2006 - 02:53 GMT

Nothing decreases the value of a property more than a never-ending stream of lawyers and prostitutes going in and out. Damn solicitors...

Katy: 9th Jul 2006 - 23:41 GMT

Oh my. I grew up a few blocks from Benny Farm and had lots of friends who lived there. It was actually a pretty cool little community-within-a-community.

Thanks for posting these.

EvilGentleman: 10th Jul 2006 - 04:51 GMT

No problem, Katy. Did you catch the article in today's Gazette about the new buildings being powered by geothermal wells? Pretty darn cool, if you ask me.

Happy Grammie: 12th Jul 2006 - 19:30 GMT

Never heard of this complex, but it sure looks like it used to quite nice with all those beautiful tall trees and green space. Hope they make it affordable rentals.

EvilGentleman: 12th Jul 2006 - 20:20 GMT

The new configuration of the complex, when completed, is supposed to have close to 550 new housing units in it (There are still a number of veterans remaining from the original complex as well, who are now in a new building). Of the new units, 213 are for special housing programs, a little over 130 can be used as low-cost housing, and a little over 200 are supposed to become condos. The breakdown is as follows:

Co-op and non-profit housing:
84 units - Benny Farm Residences (seniors)
45 units - Zoo Co-op (young families)
24 units - Benny Farm Co-op (mixed population)
18 units - Project Tango (people with limited mobility)
18 units - Elizabeth House (single mothers returning to school)
24 units - Chance House (single mothers returning to work)
TOTAL - 213 Units

ALSO:
Over 130 subsidized public rental units
Over 200 condominiums
A medical clinic
A community recreation centre
A daycare
An existing 91-unit seniors residence

Personally, I think the condos are a bit ludicrous, but the rest of it seems to be ok. The developers (a federal government-sponsored agency) claim that the condos will allow some families to own homes that would otherwise not be able to. If that truly is the case, then it might still be ok. I'm not sure if the condos will be subsidized or not. All the information can be found at www.bennyfarm.org/en/pdf/Presentation.pdf and I know there is more detailed information available at the [[www.bennyfarm.org]] website.

Chris Erb: 12th Jul 2006 - 20:55 GMT

It's quite an interesting development. The layout of the changes look like they will be pretty good. I was reading in a Planning magizine about developments much like this in Quebec City. Apparently Quebec City has a lot of these on the outskirts of the city that were all built right after WWII. There are many plans in the works to rehabilitate and up the density on them. Hopefully it all works out for the best.

Canadian-Canadian: 31st Jul 2006 - 16:07 GMT

Wow. There are TONS of vacant apartments in Montreal at low-low rents. Half of NDG is immigrants on welfare already. There was no need to spend taxpayer dollars on this. And i'm sure in 30 years the new project will look just as ugly.

David w.: 31st Jul 2006 - 16:09 GMT

i notice that the No solicitos sign was unilingual english. I guess this part of the city used to be english?

Chris Erb: 31st Jul 2006 - 16:27 GMT

From the information I've been given concerning apartment rental in Montreal, the city only has a 2% vacancy rate for low income apartments (prices that low income families, students, or new immigrants can afford). There is a definite need to increase the number of low income residencies in the city. Much like many cities in North America, there are lots of new condos and luxury apartments going up and forcing the poor residents away. Where do you propose they go?

Also, you say that tax dollars shouldn't go towards fixing the buildings up. What should the city do instead? Let it rot and become more dangerous than it already is? the city is being smart in saving it while some of it is still salvageable and turning it into somewhere decent to live. I'm sure much of the reason it's so ugly and in such bad shape now is probably due to neglect and poor planning. This is a good opportunity to learn from past mistakes and make something good out of the property.

EvilGentleman: 31st Jul 2006 - 20:04 GMT

Canadian-Canadian, why do you say: "Half of NDG is immigrants on welfare already." That seems like a pretty narrow-minded view. Do you have something against immigrants? And I seriously doubt your numbers, since most people born overseas work a hell of a lot harder than Canadian-born people. They have no choice, since they are beginning a new life, and that takes money.

From my vantagepoint as a Mohawk Indian, 96% of Canadians are immigrants, and I really get irritated when second, third, or fourth-generation immigrants think they are superior to first-generation immigrants. Do you think being born on this land gives you ownership of it? I have news for you. Unlike Europe, North America cannot be owned by mere humans. We belong to the land, the land does not belong to us. This is the way it has been here for thousands of years, and you cannot change that. If you want to own land, go to Europe, that land is used to being owned. This land is our master, and if you cannot handle that, LEAVE! Canadian-Canadian, my ass! Canada is nothing more than a mispronounced word in MY language. If you have a right to be here, as the child of immigrants, than the immigrants in NDG have just as much right as you. Sorry for the outburst, but intolerant houseguests are a bit much for my poor eyes to handle.

EvilGentleman: 31st Jul 2006 - 20:09 GMT

David w: Most of the island of Montreal west of Saint-Laurent Boulevard was English until the 1970's, when the language laws (Bill 101) resulted in the mass exodus of over half of English Montrealers.

Chris: I agree entirely.

chiamattt: 31st Jul 2006 - 22:54 GMT

Canadian-Canadian makes a good point. With the bullshit way they make houses these days, I am sure in 30 years they will look like shit. Perhaps the government should use taxpayer money to built high-quality buildings instead of trying to appease canadian-canadians by building cheaper and lower quality buildings.

nancy chartrand: 29th Sep 2006 - 00:25 GMT

wow it is hard to believethat we all lived here at one time,it is so run down.,it is actually hard to see our once lived in homes so lonely looking.this was a great place to grow up and i'm sure everyone will say the same.

Veteran's daughter: 28th Oct 2006 - 01:05 GMT

I lived here from 1963 - 1966 and remember it as being rather nice. Went back to Montreal about 6 years ago, and took a tour around the old neighbourhood. I was shocked to see what it had become. I'm pleased to hear they are refurbishing it.

Susan F: 7th Dec 2006 - 12:31 GMT

I lived in Benny Farm during the 1950's & 60's. Certainly looked a lot better then and it does now. Was a great community to grow up in; tons of kids to play with and a very safe environment. Played many games of touch football, cops & robbers, spotlight etc. A lot has changed over the years - my elementary school is now condos and my high school is a senior citizen home. So sad to see Benny Farm in its present state; hopefully the refurbishment will bring some life back into it.

EvilGentleman: 7th Dec 2006 - 20:23 GMT

I am glad that my pictures are getting viewed by some of the former tenants here. The only parallel I can use to try to imagine how you folks feel is to think back to many of the old military bases I grew up on, and how those areas have changed since the bases shut down. Places that were once thriving housing areas for young military personnel and their families are now senior citizen subdivisions or have been torn down altogether. My memories will always remain, but the world I grew up in is no more. Life goes on, but I think what many people forget is the human connection we have forged with the places we lived. Keep your memories alive. Write them down, tell your kids and grandkids, videotape yourself walking around the area and reminiscing. Don't let people forget the history of where you grew up. When the city finally gets busy revitalizing the N.D.G. area, they should have a decent idea of what it was like when things were better.

EvilGentleman: 7th Dec 2006 - 21:04 GMT

The old name of the neighbourhood, Notre-Dame-de-Grace (Our Lady of Grace). It was also the name of the area from when it became an independent city in 1906, until it was swallowed up by Montreal in 1910.

It should be noted that N.D.G. also has many unofficial nicknames, such as "No Damn Good", "Notre-Dump-de-Garbage" and a few others that are unmentionable, due to the racist words used for the "N". Many white Montrealers assume that since the area has a large Black population, it is a "bad" area, when in reality, most of the area is quite decent, but in a gradual decline, same as most areas within a couple miles of downtown.

bkzmeridian: 11th Dec 2006 - 01:51 GMT

I grew up on Benny Farm(50-60's)....many fond memories. We considered our apartment home, not a rent. I remember my mother scrubbing the front stoop down to the next landing and so on. We had pride, and it showed. The community thrived within a neighborhood NDG.It is sad to read some of the comments and yes see the photos, but I can remember when...i played sockey, donkey, run sheep run and so on....great place for kids...carnivals, pagents, hockey games, ..endless activities....

waynemoriarty: 18th Dec 2006 - 23:21 GMT

Thank you so much for this. I, too, grew up in Benny Farm. 6530 Monkland, I believe. It was a wonderful place to live in the 60s. An amazing community within a community. There was this security officer named Percy, who we called Percy Kidpester. He used to walk around the grounds giving kids gum. Urban legend of the time was that any animal fed some of Percy's gum would die.

EvilGentleman: 19th Dec 2006 - 18:48 GMT

I am truly touched by how many people have started pouring out the memories of an area now abandoned, how that brings the area back to life in the eyes of those of us who have never seen the place as it used to be. Reminds me of the articles about Cabrini Green and Humboldt Park. Keep it up, I am always glad to hear more from those who called the Farm home.

A Child of Benny Farm: 27th Dec 2006 - 06:47 GMT

My parents moved to Benny Farm in 1961 as newlyweds. I was born on Benny Farm as were my siblings. Over the years, we lived in four different apartments. I have nothing but very fond memories of growing up in this unique little community. Where else could you have hundreds of neighbours who knew your name and where you lived. As kids, we had the interior of almost two city blocks as our backyard with a park and pool across the street on Monkland and a library across the street on Benny Avenue. Trust me, kids growing up on Benny Farm may not have been from rich families but we were rich in many other ways that kids today will never get to experience.
My mom still lives there and yes it is changing but it can be as wonderful as it once was if the new want it to be.

A Child of Benny Farm: 27th Dec 2006 - 06:55 GMT

Oh, while I remember, the photo with the caption about a UFO or clothesline, that is a pictures of the satellite. It was sort of like monkey bars with a modern feel and no sharp corners - everything was rounded. They brought a few of them in and put them in the backyards in the grassy areas. We played on them (and got injured on them). So, no UFO and no clothesline just another playground apparatus.

A Child of Benny Farm: 27th Dec 2006 - 06:59 GMT

There is actually a chat site for Benny Farmers in case anyone is interested. Your site was posted on our site so we might as well post ours on yours.
http://groups.msn.com/Bennyfarm

lynn mcgaraughty: 23rd Feb 2007 - 04:03 GMT

I moved into benny farm nov22 1963,the day john f kennedy was shot.I moved in with my brother Mike and my two parents who were RCAF.It was built for veterans and evebtually other families were able to move in.It was the best time of my life.I loved the parties in the summer in the back 40 and the winter festivals with broom ball.I remember the Aubies the Churchs Webbers and the Laviolettes and the Fogarties.I believe that none of us regret growing up in the 60's and 70's there.I wish my two children who's father grew up on the farm could have ahd the life that i had there.We were so rich in having so many friends and we were never bored,There was always someone to play with.God bless that old place and those who lived and grew up there.The memories I have from there will leave a smile on my face for the rest of my life...Lynn M Coady McGaraughty

Jay: 3rd Apr 2007 - 02:51 GMT

I grew up nearby and walked past Benny Farim on my way to Monklands H.S. (now a Sr Citizens Residence) Had many friends who lived here and remember the community sense that exited. Kids played outdoors and moms handed out cookies. It was a safe and happy neighbourhood (in the 70's) I too have been back a few times to Montreal and much has changed - not just here.

Nicolas: 15th Apr 2007 - 03:35 GMT

It's nice to read those comments, so many memories shared!

Montreal is full of little districts that were condemned or abandonned. Now the situation is reversing, people are "coming back" in the city after the suburban exodus. So now is the time to give our beautiful city a new birth! Green parks, nice and quiet, public transit-oriented new districts hopefully will bloom soon.

L'île de Montréal has grown up, but it still keeps the happiness of a true and kind population.

Gerald Chartrand: 20th Apr 2007 - 07:13 GMT

I am 41 yrs and born on the project, it was the place that I will always keep in my heart.It was a safe and very home type of place to grow up in,everybody knew of each other,but that is not to say thay all got along. Benny Farm was a city in a city. Benny Farm was a family, a community, it was a way of life. (I grew up at 4100 Benny, Apt 22. H4B-2R8.)... WHAT A PLACE TO IT WAS???.

EvilGentleman: 27th May 2007 - 11:18 GMT

Google Earth updated the satellite photo, you can see some of the recent changes.

Last time I drove down Monkland a few weeks ago, the buildings in this article all seem to be still standing.

CE: 27th May 2007 - 14:28 GMT

I biked out to Loyola via Sherbrooke the other day and I could see a couple buildings that had been demolished behind the ones that front Sherbrooke.

How new are the new satellite images? I haven't used Google Earth for awhile lately because my computer is giving me a lot of trouble.

EvilGentleman: 27th May 2007 - 17:25 GMT

I'm not sure of the age, but I would guess some time between one and two years ago. The only difference between the way I saw them last year and the way they look in the satpic is I believe the second new building on Cavendish was already built. Or was it? Now I'm wondering... Well, I would say these pics were taken within the last two years sometime, anyways.

Benny Avenue resident: 8th Jun 2007 - 13:44 GMT

I have lived adjacent to the Benny Farm project for 9 years with my husband & two children. A lot of work has gone into these projects and people "in-need" are benefiting already. Much work still needs to be done but it is slowly coming along. The playground at Benny Park has been completely re-done and it is now a very busy park, much busier than when we first arrived. NDG is still an amazing area to live in and I hope to never leave! It is neat to read the old stories, my husband also grew up in NDG.

Glenn Freeman: 15th Jun 2007 - 21:35 GMT

Hi,

Just googling pics of my old neighbourhood. I live in Europe now, and haven't lived in Montreal for 10 years now. IIRC, They were still working on Benny Farm back then.

Grüß aus Deutschland,

Glenn

Gail Purser/ nee Howard: 29th Jun 2007 - 18:59 GMT

My family(The Howards) moved to the Benny Farm in the fall of 1947, I was one year old at the time. We moved to Beloeil in Oct/56. We lived in K block ,3677 Cavendish Blvd. Those 9 years were the best times of my life. We always had so much fun. There was always something going on.We had skating and hockey rinks in the winter, organized sports of all sorts, the annual Carnivals. The best May 24th fireworks in Montreal. It was a safe and fun place to grow up. The weekly Benny Farmer is a hoot to look at now. I have issues from Jan. 1950 to July 1954.It is comment and history of those wonderful times. I would love to go back and see if our building is one of the ones being reno'd.
Would like to see posts from other ex Benny farmers from the fifties.

Angebee: 5th Jul 2007 - 00:37 GMT

I live in one of these buildings. The architects won all sorts of awards for the fact that we have a "green" project. What people don't know is that the architects, engineers, contractors and sub-contractors installed everything wrong. Pipes have exploded causing leaks thus causing mold to form. One of my close friend's husband recently passed from a fungus that developped in his lungs likely caused by some mold spores travelling through the ventilation system (which is not functioning the way it is supposed to). The majority of our members are ill most of the time, complaining of headaches, vomiting and nosebleeds among other things. The winters are freezing as the heating system doesn't function properly either. We didn't have heat until mid December last year!! Babies have been hospitalized for pneumonia etc.... Our board of directors (we are a co-op) has fallen apart, as there are always emergencies happening due to deficiencies that were never corrected thus resulting in the inability to focus on the normal running of the co-op. I am one of the founding members of the project. The dream we had was to address the housing crisis in Montreal, by creating decent affordable housing for 46 families and it has unfortunately turned into a nightmare.

Dan Bertrand: 25th Aug 2007 - 16:40 GMT

If the Nancy Chartrand who posted here is the same person that I was buddies with when I moved away from Montreal in 1991, I'd like to say hello.. I lived on Fielding when I moved..

Is that you Nancy? LOL

Dan Bertrand
dbert999@shaw.ca

CE: 4th Sep 2007 - 15:31 GMT

Benny Farm is in the news today. Angebee isn't the only one in the new buildings facing a rash of problems.

www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=6e84a31f-5e3d-4f1f-8600-93f15ca5666e

Kevin McGrath: 11th Dec 2007 - 23:01 GMT

I also grew up in Benny Farm in the sixties.Went to St Monika's with my brother and sister.We lived in the first complex (A block?).The back 40 was alien territory, but I agree with everyone else that it was a wonderful place to be a kid.
My brother's best friend was Dougie Jarvis-- I wonder if he became the NHL player of the same name.

EvilGentleman: 12th Dec 2007 - 02:56 GMT

Doug Jarvis of the NHL hailed from Brantford, Ontario, according to Wikipedia Doug_Jarvis

anon (cpe-76-91-29-51.socal.res.rr.com): 21st Dec 2007 - 05:59 GMT

I did not know that Canada had projects!!!!!!!! I am from a big city in the U.S. and I had no idea! Wow!

EvilGentleman: 21st Dec 2007 - 08:54 GMT

The four attached buildings closest to Benny Ave are gone now. Since this article is already pretty large, I'll post a new article with the pics whenever I get around to posting articles again. I'll be sure to leave a link here when I do.

Chuck Steak: 3rd Mar 2008 - 06:25 GMT

Hung around the Benny centre and pool quite a bit during the late 70's early 80's. As long as you didn't look for trouble you generally wouldn't find trouble. Anyone remeber the Benny Gang? or the "Belsen Boys" of the Sex Pistols era? Nice to see a re-development provided it doesn't displace people.

Doug in California: 7th Mar 2008 - 02:54 GMT

A native Montrealer, I lived in the building at 4120 Benny Ave. from 1946 to 1952, when my dad got transferred to Ontario. I went to Kensington School up to grade 3 before we moved. What memories these photos brought back, sad as they are to look at. I'm familiar with everything in every photo shown, and remember how Benny Farm looked way back then. It was a great place to be a kid. And it had a terrific community spirit.

It has been a long time since I visited Montreal (I've lived in California since 1980) but I have thought of Benny Farm many times over the years. My curiosity finally led me to do a Google search, where I found this site. Sad to see what has happened to the old place, but I'm glad to see the Benny Farm name will live on in the new development.

Doug in California: 7th Mar 2008 - 03:23 GMT

Whoops, there was a typo in my post. I meant to type "1947." As I recall, we were among the first families to move into Benny Farm after it was built.

EvilGentleman: 7th Mar 2008 - 06:49 GMT

I have posted new articles.

The first is about the demolition of the original buildings facing Benny Avenue. The Destruction of Benny Farm

The second is about the preparations to build condos in the site where the buildings in the first article once stood. Benny Farm - The Future Site of the Benny Square Condos

Jade-en-Ville: 11th Mar 2008 - 15:28 GMT

EvilGentleman,

I have learned a great deal from your pictures and posts over the past few years. This post prompted me to respond, mainly to lend weight to your comments to Canadian-Canadian.

EvilGentleman's perspective is, in my mind, the right one and far too rarely recognized. Canadians _are_ 'immigrants' - every last one of them. First Nations were obviously here first. And if any of us have been here for more than a generation, then out of respect for those forebears' struggles and efforts we should be welcoming newcomers to Canada, not stereotyping and fearing them. Ignorance about the important contributions that newcomers make to Montreal's vibrant culture and economy is just that: ignorance. Thanks for setting the record straight, EG. Thanks also for this record of an important site in transition in Montreal. I love to read the former residents' comments and memories. Too bad that the greening of the project has been such a disaster.

EvilGentleman: 27th Mar 2008 - 18:23 GMT

Thank you Jade. Your support is appreciated. Not really sure what else to say, so I will just leave it at that.

sheila: 2nd Apr 2008 - 03:32 GMT

Very nostalgic to see the photos of Benny Farm. I lived there from 1953 until 1965 and my fondest memories stem from the many friends that I made. there. I would love to be able to communicate with my old buddies.I particularly loved field day, winter carnivals, halloween. and our games of hide and go seek .

terry hindley: 15th May 2008 - 04:02 GMT

"Hung around the Benny centre and pool quite a bit during the late 70's early 80's. As long as you didn't look for trouble you generally wouldn't find trouble. Anyone remeber the Benny Gang? or the "Belsen Boys" of the Sex Pistols era? Nice to see a re-development provided it doesn't displace people."That was me and my buddies!!Being poor white and having the cops on your back all the time meant we had to gang up!! I wasnt in the benny gang (i lived over on belgrave ) But it was probably one of the best places on earth to grow up I know lynn mcg and it was about 400 kids between 8 and 18 from 1967 to about 1980 what a fantastic time to grow up in montreal other than the poor part the belsen boys was just a shock punk thing sonme guys used for a non existent band name unlike THE DISCORDS!! Is it still spray painted on the wall on crescent near st catherine st>>?? lol lol

Skin88: 19th May 2008 - 03:13 GMT

I grew up in the Dorval projects, they look very similar

Mike In Alberta: 19th May 2008 - 08:59 GMT

Too funny..

I grew up in N.D.G. and hung out at Terrebonne Park in the late 70's. Remember it all well. The Discords...lol. Oh man!! There was no gang when I think back. We all thought we were bad but really just a bunch of insecure kids with nothing to do except get into kid trouble...and drink beer and smoke dope in the park.

sue: 26th Jun 2008 - 05:26 GMT

I lived at 4250 Benny ave apt. 12 People in our building were the Robichauds, The Gonczas, The Withers, The Fletchers. (All I can remenber anyway. What a great place. I was an only child and was never lonely. There was always someone out playing. I was there from 1958-1963 and went to Kensington.

Margo-murray: 20th Jul 2008 - 16:52 GMT

How amazing to find this site. We, the Murray Clan, my parents Terry and Denis, and my brothers, David, Brian and Mike (my sister wasn't born yet) lived at 4100 Benny from around 1953 to 1957. As so many have said, it was a fantastic place to be a kid. There were nothing but young families there so there was never a shortage of someone to play with out the back on the monkey bars. The best haloweens ever were in Benny Farm and the neighborhood. We would all fill our pillowcases 2-3 times in the evening - and no parents had to go along with you. Just kids having fun with none of today's worries! I remember the Peace's, the Tobin's and so many friends from St. Monica's. Thanks for this very informative site. It is sad to see what it became and hopefully they will correct some of the problems that have been mentioned here in the newer buildings. I live in Vancouver now and have not been back to Benny for a driveby since the 70's. Such great memories!