The Quebec government has placed a reserve on two pieces of land near the Montreal convention center to give itself time to study a possible expansion of the facility.

The two sites are the land north of the Palais des congrès bounded by Viger, Anderson, de la Gauchetière and Cheneville Streets and the area to the east bounded by Viger, Saint-Antoine, Saint-Laurent and Saint-Urbain Streets.

Deputy Tourism Minister Pascal Bérubé announced it would reserve the land for four years, allowing building owners to continue to use the land as needed but preventing them from any construction of, improvements or additions to any buildings.

The government says its decision was prompted by recent analyses confirming that the available space for large events at the center will reach a critical mass starting in 2015. It says it needs to keep the center competitive, especially for major medical and technological conventions.

The government will continue its technical studies and evaluations of the space needs of the convention center which opened in 1983.

Photo: Wikipedia