Over time, Smith Street becomes isolated from others, impacting its residents. However, they gradually adapt to this unusual living environment. Clothesline poles are directly planted in the mining waste piles, and there is no backyard.
Children use the street to play, which is made easier by the low traffic, as the street is a cul-de-sac. Additionally, rain causes runoff from the piles, making the street muddy. However, since the Bell Mine is operated underground, blasting and noise affect the residents less than in other parts of the city.
From 1969 to 1973, the Saint-Maurice neighborhood is relocated to make way for mining expansion. Smith Street and the Mitchell neighborhood are included in this extensive relocation plan, but the phases concerning them are on hold due to significant financial costs.
While waiting for an official decision, homeowners, as well as the City, refrain from undertaking major work for fear of doing so in vain if a relocation occurs. This prolonged uncertainty leads to the deterioration of buildings, street infrastructure, and, by extension, the living conditions of the residents.