Place Jacques-Cartier restaurant owners will seek injunction against city

Restaurateurs inPlace Jacques-Cartier will seek an injunction against the city to prevent an overhaul of the plaza and the installation of a central terrasse.

The city's plans include eliminating current restaurants' dining patios and building standardized ones close to the centre of the square.

Restaurant owners considered asking for aninjunction as far back as May, but decided to go ahead with the requestTuesday afternoon.

• PlaceJacques-Cartierrestaurant owners threaten injunction against city

"It's a long shot but it's better than not doing anything about it," saidStevie Hamron, operator of Pink Flamingorestaurant.

City isn't considering reality, restaurateurs say

Owners are concerned that the distance between the proposed central terrasse and the restaurants would be a "logistical nightmare."

"We'd have to navigate through a sea of people and hustle plates to the customer," Hamron said.

They're also worried about potential losses during bad weather, since waiters would have to carry plates through the rain.

"We're all for the embellishment of the area but they're not taking into consideration the reality," he said.

• City draws inspiration from Barcelona, Stockholm with PlaceJacques-Cartierupgrades

A spokesperson for the city said it won't comment on the injunction, but said similar renovation plans haveworked in other cities and on St-Denis Street, and has the support of the Old Montreal business development association.

"The proposed plan will also allow us to liven up Place Jacques-Cartier in winter," saidMarc-Andr Gosselin.

The restaurant owners plan to formally request the injunction in the coming days.