About 14,000 new housing units capable of accommodating 28,000 people are expected to emerge around the extension of the blue line of the Montreal metro, according to a study commissioned by the City and obtained by The Press.
It is the equivalent of the current population of Magog, Boisbriand or Saint-Bruno which will land in the sector within 30 years, according to the document.
“In total, the demographic influx generated around the stations of the blue line would theoretically generate the development of 15.4 million square feet, all uses combined”, indicates an “assessment of development potential” prepared in 2021-2022 by the firms BC2 and Groupe Altus. The equivalent of 10 times Place Ville Marie.
Because in addition to their residence (condos and apartments), these thousands of new residents will need new businesses and new services, underlines the report.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante, the municipal councilor in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Éric Alan Caldwell, the federal deputy in Honoré-Mercier, Pablo Rodriguez, and the provincial deputy in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Chantal Rouleau, during the announcement of the extension of the blue line of the Montreal metro, last March
Demand should justify the establishment of three new supermarkets (at Pie-IX, Anjou and Langelier stations), 500 new daycare spaces, two new CHSLDs, seven new medical clinics, as well as an increase in the cultural and sports offer. , according to the study, obtained through access to information.
No or relatively few new offices, on the other hand, since “the signals obtained by the market are not very favorable to the construction of new buildings” of offices because of teleworking.
“To be viable, commercial spaces must be located on sites with good conditions of accessibility and visibility, indicates the document. In this sense, the Jean-Talon Street axis should be favored, as well as the sites near its main intersections (Pie-IX, Viau, Lacordaire, Langelier and Anjou). »
Urbanism redesigned
In reaction to the document, the mayor’s office upped the ante. “We have the potential to develop up to 17,500 new housing units there for all portfolios in new green and inclusive living environments built around metro stations,” assured press officer Marikym Gaudreault in writing. Like any residential development project, the sector will also be subject to the 20-20-20 by-law and urban planning will lead to the creation of new affordability zones.
The mayor of Saint-Léonard, Michel Bissonnet, refused the interview request of The Press. His district will host three of the five new stations on the line.
“The borough is working with the Ville-centre to plan the redevelopment of the Langelier sector. This sector is currently made up of large parking lots that do not serve the population well, in particular by being large heat islands, and it is not very attractive, ”he said in a written statement.
[Le] redevelopment [du secteur Langelier] will therefore be very positive for the borough and its population.
Michel Bissonnet, Mayor of Saint-Léonard, in a written statement
He also pointed out that the borough had redesigned the urban planning of rue Jean-Talon Est.
After years of paralysis, the project to extend the blue metro line is now going well. The STM is about to choose the consortium that will dig the tunnel over six kilometres, while its subcontractor is working to demolish the buildings that will give way to the stations. The inauguration is scheduled for 2029.
Already green lights
The development will not be homogeneous all along the new section of the blue line, specifies the document.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Signs appeared last fall to announce the holding of construction sites for the new infrastructures of the blue line.
Experts expect the 14,000 new households to settle mainly around the future Anjou station (+4,500 households), Langelier (+3,500 households) and Pie-IX (+3,200 households).
These three future stations are located near shopping centers, as well as huge parking lots promised for redevelopment.
The borough of Anjou recently gave the green lights to two major housing projects: a 241-unit complex put forward by First Capital on boulevard Louis-H.-La Fontaine, as well as a complex of three buildings that rise to 19 floors in the current parking lot of Les Halles d’Anjou. This second project was however withdrawn by the promoter Jadco, indicated the mayor of Anjou, Luis Miranda, at the last borough council.