When we think of Rue de la Commune today, we think of the street which gives us access to Old Montréal and the Old Port stretching from Berri in the east to just west of McGill. It's a pleasant treelined road parallelling a bike path and often full of people especially in the region of Place Jacques Cartier.
It's hard to imagine that only 50 years ago, it was an industrial and commercial artery lined with port facilities, sheds, warehouses and huge grain elevators, quite unrecognizable from today.
 Going back even further to the beginnings of the colony, we find another thoroughfare altogether. As its name suggests, it was once common land along the river's edge outside the fortifications where settlers could graze their animals and pull up their boats on its shores. When the fortifications were demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, the Commissioners responsible for the job had quays built along the waterfront and they opened a new road which they baptised Commissioners Street. In 1970, this street was renamed Rue de la Commune to remind us of the colony's beginnings.
What's gone and what's changed The south side of La Commune was revolutionized when the working port moved downstream and the Old Port was created. This was a process which began in the late 1970s with the removal of Grain Elevators no. 2 in 1978 and no. 1 in 1983 (see Le Vieux-Montréal, mars-avril 2008). To appreciate just how their removal changed the street, you only have to stand at the corner of McGill and La Commune and look at the enormous concrete walls of Grain Elevator no. 5. Walls of that size once lined the street to the east blocking out the light as well as any access to the river. A large number of metal sheds were also removed as well as some of the railway lines. The park we know so well today was completed prior to 1992 to celebrate the city's 350th anniversary.
At the same time, the north side of the street has changed from being industrial and commercial to being largely residential with a few cultural projects thrown in. To my mind, several major projects are responsible for this change and they, in turn, have influenced a number of smaller ones.
From McGill to Pointe-à-Callière At the corner of McGill and La Commune stands a vast triangular complex of apartments known as No. 1 McGill. Fairly revolutionary in its time (1995), this complex was the first new construction in the old quarter. It brought a lot of people to live in this area and thus began La Commune's change from industrial to residential landscape. Next door at no. 357 is another important project, the beautifully restored former Harbour Commissioners' Building with its distinctive tower (in centre of photo) which belongs to Daniel Langlois of Softimage and houses a very exclusive club.
From this point, the view east shows the waterfront buildings forming a gentle curve as they follow the old line of the river. Practically all of them were built in the 19th century as warehouses beside quays where all manner of produce was once unloaded. Today, no warehouses remain. The stone structures have been cleaned and put to other uses such as high class offices and condominiums.
Among them stands the distinctive modern structure of the Pointe-à-Callière Archeology and History Museum. This was another important project which revolutionized the street. Opened in 1992 for the city's 350th anniversary, it has brought cultural activities to the waterfront both inside and outside its walls. It also has an unusual tower boasting a viewpoint of the whole area which is well worth the detour.
From Pointe-à-Callière to Marché Bonsecours After Pointe-à-Callière until you arrive at Boulevard Saint-Laurent, pricey condominiums dominate the upper floors of the grey stone buildings while the ground floors house a variety of new stores, cafes and offices. The character of La Commune changes as Saint-Laurent is crossed becoming more commercial and less residential. Often, what is seen is the back of a business on Rue Saint-Paul.
The final part of the street in Old Montréal is dominated by the huge but elegant structure of the Bonsecours Market with its beautiful silver dome. Like the projects mentioned above, the renovation of this building contributed significantly to the renovation of the whole street. Converted into an exhibition centre from city offices in 1992, today it houses an interesting collection of boutiques and stores offering largely local arts and crafts as well as a few restaurants.
And next door to it stands a relic of times past : the charming Chapel of Notre- Dame-de-Bonsecours. Once the statue on the back facing La Commune overlooked the river marking for ships their arrival in the port. The lovely interior entirely renovated since 1985 provides a place of tranquillity on this busy street.
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