Real estate developer Broccolini plans to build a distribution center for Amazon in Varennes on the former site of Mometal Structures, which declared bankruptcy in 2019, according to information from the Homework. Covering an area of more than 85,000 m2, the site would accommodate Amazon’s fourth distribution center in the Montreal metropolitan area. Already having centers in Mascouche, Coteau-du-Lac and Lachine, the e-commerce giant has been looking for a location south of Montreal for years.
Two limited partnerships created in 2021, which belong to Broccolini, bought the land backing onto 201, chemin de l’Énergie. This is the site where Mometal Structures manufactured steel structures between 2000 and 2019 before declaring bankruptcy. The site that was used for agriculture before 2000 is worth $10.7 million, according to the latest municipal valuation.
No final plans
In a brief email to Homework, Amazon was content to say that there were no “final plans”, referring to Broccolini “for any other specific questions”. The Kirkland promoter declined to answer questions from the Homework in connection with the project. It also filed a notice of contamination this fall, a preliminary step to decontamination.
In recent years, Broccolini has been retained by Amazon to build distribution centers in Lachine, Coteau-du-Lac, Ottawa and Barrhaven, Ontario.
Amazon’s interest in Varennes is not new; the multinational has a data center there. What’s more, Broccolini recently made other moves to build him a distribution center on 15.8 hectares of land owned by DuPont. The American chemical giant has held acquired rights to agricultural land in Varennes for decades.
However, in January, the Commission for the Protection of Agricultural Land (CPTAQ) finally refused this project. Reason given by the CPTAQ: not only is the land in an agricultural zone, but the rights acquired from DuPont are only valid for industrial activities related to chemistry.
A “spider’s web” strategy
In its decision, the CPTAQ reports the remarks of the president of the Broccolini Real Estate Group, Roger Plamondon, who has already explained “that the distribution industry operates according to the principle of the spider’s web, corresponding to the four cardinal points”, adding “that Amazon is seeking to establish itself in the south crown of Montreal”.
The latter presented Varennes as a “nerve sector” which, thanks to its main roads, allows quick access to Montreal, Quebec City and the United States via the Eastern Townships highway. .
The mayor of Varennes, Martin Damphousse, did not want to confirm or deny the assertion that Amazon will move into the distribution center planned by Broccolini. A work permit has been filed by Broccolini for the former Mometal Structures site, he only said.
Mr. Damphousse stresses, however, that the municipality has put everything in place to attract this type of project. In recent years, “the City has bought and sold a lot of land,” he recalls. Costco has had a warehouse there since 2019 and plans to expand in the next few years.
“It is certain that with the arrival of the Port of Montreal in Contrecœur, we are even better positioned,” he said, adding that the interest is reflected in the arrival of “Jean Coutu, Costco and Amazon and the 200 other companies on [leur] territory in 10 years”.