Angell Woods: Montreal to spend $3.5M to buy part of West Island forest

The City of Montreal will spend $3.5 million to acquire a 78,500-square metre expanseof land in the West Island and add it to the protected l'Anse--l'Orme nature park.

The property at 575 Elm Avenue in Beaconsfieldis part of the Angell Woods forest. The acquisition of the land about the size of ten CFL football fieldswould extend l'Anse--l'Ormenature parkto Highway 20.

In a written statement, Beaconsfield mayor Georges Bourelle saidthe extension could eventually lead to a north-south recreational corridor linking withCap-St.Jacques.

Stephen Lloyd, the president of the Association for the protection of Angell Woods, said it's important to preserve all remaining green spaces on the West Island.

"There are 10 or 11 rare species or endangered species inAngellWoods. These aren't just any old woods. This is a century-old forest, largely untouched," he said.

The property contains a building which will be demolished by the city. The formerretirement home, Marian Hall, was bought by a developer in2011 for $3.5 million to turn into apartments. It was not developed and sits vacant.

The acquisition represents a small part of Angell Woods. There are two other privatelyowned lots on either side,one 3.5-million square metres in sizeand another at 1.8-million square metres, Lloyd said.

The fate of the entire Angell Woods territoryhas been apoint on contention amongWest Islandresidents and environmentalists for years.