The piles of white celestial shit have melted to a great extent, as it was about 0°. However, that will mean glare ice, and it was already quite icy this afternoon.
The wet, heavy snow is actually a godsend for farmers, and for trees. I'm just terrified both of being shut in, not getting enough exercise and of the icy pavements. Certainly aware of the environmental implications of the strange winters.
There are already little orange signs up indicating that the opposite side of my street will be cleared tonight, and that there is no parking on that side after 7 pm. I hear a lot of cars digging out and attempting to move (there are some parking places for them not far away, fortunately). Actually, I'm not sure my street will be cleared, as St-Laurent and St-Denis (the main north-south streets I live between) are far greater priorities.
I noticed that two unremarkable but familiar buildings in my neighbourhood will be either pulled down or substanially altered. Actually, while Meubles Torino underwent some rather hideous renovation of its frontage (ugly white bricks) it is actually a greystone building worthy or restoration. Whatever happens it will no doubt become condos, but so many of them are thrown up with little regard for the architectural vernacular and some don't even have BALCONIES. The most humble flats in Montréal have balconies, except for some very old ones in an Ancien Régime or ealry 19th-Century French or British style. "Balconville" is a local expression, in French but also in English (see David Fennario) for how working-class people relaxed and cooled down in summertime, and the vital, if at times overly close, streetlife.
To say nothing about neglect of the need for social and affordable housing... There are projects underway nearby, but it remains to be seen whether they will actually be funded and get off the ground.
