The Plante administration says it hopes to be able to present “very soon” its project to transform the old bus station, in the east of downtown Montreal.
The real estate complex, at the corner of Berri and Maisonneuve, is often described as being particularly unsightly in the urban landscape of the Latin Quarter. It is also located near the western entrance to the Village, hit by devitalization.
“As far as planning the project goes, it’s ongoing. It’s well advanced. We think we will be able to share the work that has been done very soon,” said the head of urban planning for the Plante administration, Robert Beaudry, to the municipal council.
“Obviously, it’s a complex site,” he continued. It is a site which is above a metro station, which is near a construction site which is currently underway. There are a lot of obstacles. »
The City of Montreal has owned the site since 2019. It had first considered a project containing a significant portion of offices, but had to return to the drawing board when the pandemic reduced the needs for this type of building.
Robert Beaudry answered questions from opposition elected official Julien Hénault-Ratelle, while the municipal council had to set the rent for businesses that occupy the premises temporarily. These rentals are adequate, but “the transitional period must come to an end,” said Mr. Hénault-Ratelle.