The City of Montreal authorizes promoters these days to add floors to construction projects already examined, an “exceptional measure” to tackle the housing crisis.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The former Mercy hospital, a vacant heritage set of the René-Lévesque boulevard, could thus accommodate a 28-storey tower (90 meters). It would be significantly higher than in the 65-meter preliminary version of the project presented to the municipal apparatus last fall: the building would even be one of the highest in the city center.
The project of the Frontenac Real estate complex, led by the Montreal Transport Company (STM) near the metro station of the same name, could peak on 20 floors. A previous version of the project, with only 12 floors, had already been approved.
These plans received favorable opinions from the urban planning advisory committee which covers the city center, according to municipal documents unveiled last week.
In the context of the housing crisis, our administration deploys exceptional measures to accelerate and facilitate construction in Montreal. We are proud to negotiate with promoters of solutions that allow them to build more and faster in Montreal.
The office of the mayor Valérie Plante
The redevelopment of the Mercy hospital and the construction of the Frontenac real estate complex must still be the subject of additional approvals of elected officials. In both cases, the administration could use its “superpowers” granted in 2024 by the Quebec government to prevent unhappy citizens from being able to put sticks in the wheels.
“It was time”
There is a real tendency to add density to projects yet in development for a long time, according to Christian Savard, director general of the organization living in the city.
“This is something that seems to me quite generalized today,” he said, in an interview with The press.
Many promoters demonstrate that between the increase in construction costs and the demand for housing, it is more and more justified to go with more strong densities, particularly around public transport.
Christian Savard, Managing Director of living in town
-Mr. Savard notably quotes the development plan for the Bridge-Bonaventure sector, which “suddenly goes from 6000-7000 dwellings to 13,500 dwellings, with everyone who applauds”. He also mentions the real estate development planned by the Mach group on two future stations on the metro blue line, supported by the municipal administration even if it is much dense than provided in local regulations.
Simon G. Boyer, real estate broker specializing in land to be built at Landerz, also observes this phenomenon. “It was time, because the developers were starting to get out of Montreal,” he said. If you want to have a downtown that is healthy, Montreal must be able to continue to serve as a locomotive. »»
Two new projects
Other voices observe this sudden increase in permitted heights with more skepticism. Especially since in the case of redevelopment of the Mercy hospital, it supposes the demolition of part of the complex built in 1884.
It is “a lot of demolition and even facadism,” deplored Dinu Bumbaru, from the Harditage Montreal organization. He is also concerned about the construction of a 10 -story building on rue de la Gauchetière, which “risks being crushing for this small street whose route dates back to the 18th centurye century “.
It is the promoter Staerk Group that eyeing this property. He did not recall The press. The site is currently belonging to the Quebec state, which put it on sale in 2023. The complex, located just south of the Berri-Uqam metro station, has been vacant for a dozen years.
“The project incorporates a location for social housing,” says the opinion of the urban planning advisory committee, which does not reveal the number of housing that is integrated into the project.
Image provided by STM
The project of the Frontenac real estate complex could go from 12 to 20 floors.
In the case of the Frontenac real estate complex, it is 524 units (442 rental housing units and 82 social housing) that the STM would like to build on one of its parking lots.
“The project will be structuring for the neighborhood”, judges the urban planning advisory committee, because it “integrates a social housing building as well as families for families”.
The Frontenac real estate complex had already experienced a false departure in 2019, the construction contractor chosen by the STM having been dismissed. He now continues the organization for 9 million. The cause is still in court.
