Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
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Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is a district of Montreal, Quebec, situated on the eastern half of the island, generally to the south and south-west of the city's Olympic Stadium. Its borders are roughly rue Frontenac to the west, rue Sherbrooke to the north, rue Cadillac to the east, and the Saint Lawrence River to the south. Its population is an interesting mix of working class Quebecois and recent immigrants.
In 2002, the district became a borough (arrondissement) of the City of Montreal, with 128,000 residents. It is one of the poorest areas of the city, with a reputation for motorcycle gangs, drugs, and prostitution. However, it is also a densely-populated residential neighbourhood, with some industry. The Maisonneuve Market and rue Ontario are affordable shopping areas for locals, while the Olympic Park, containing the Stadium, Olympic Tower, Biodome, Olympic Pool, Maurice Richard Arena, and Parc Maisonneuve offer recreation for locals and tourists. The district also enjoys an advantageous view of the International Fireworks Festival during the summer months.
The neighbourhood has a dense collection of residential architecture unique to Montreal, notably featuring outdoor spiralling metal staircases. The district's relatively cheap land prices and proximity to downtown Montreal have meant that some of these buildings have made way for more modern condominiums.