Versant Soleil | “It takes skiable territory”, recognizes Station Mont Tremblant

On the eve of a revival of housing construction on Versant Soleil, the Laurentians ski resort is aware of the improvements to be made to its ski area more than 20 years after the opening of this slope.

Andre Dubuc
The Press

“We continue to think about adding ski slopes to Versant Soleil,” says Annique Aird, vice-president, sales, marketing and communications, at Station Mont Tremblant. “When you attach people who are going to live there with houses and condos, that takes up skiable territory,” she admits.

Just before COVID-19, Tremblant announced the opening of a new summit, Timber, as well as the development of a school slope at Versant Soleil, an investment of 8 million. The project has since been put on hold.

“The project is still on the project table. It’s a matter of how the parent company [qui détient 15 centres de villégiature] allocates its capital,” says Mr.^me Aird.

Last Tuesday, developer Brivia, known for its urban projects, announced a 500-unit subdivision in several phases at Versant Soleil. He wants to start selling the first-phase units in the fall.

Since the purchase of Tremblant by Alterra Mountain Company in 2017, investments have resumed after the long hiatus of Fortress, owner from 2006 to 2017.

Still according to M^me Aird, that commitment had a ripple effect. The Verbier (139 housing units near Le Géant golf course), Pure (39 townhouses at Le Diable golf course), Pinnacle (58 and semi-detached houses at Le Géant golf course) and Lagom (25 houses near Le Géant golf course) housing estates collectively represent nearly of 150 million in subdivision.

New start

As for the Brivia project, the City of Mont-Tremblant has confirmed that it has accepted the image plan, which allows it to have a macro view of future integrated projects. “This step makes it possible, among other things, to obtain an environmental study as well as a land development and surface water management plan,” explains Maxime Dorais, communications manager.

A road construction permit and an embankment and excavation permit for the construction of the mini ski run crossing the project have been issued.

Regarding the next steps, the advisory committee and the municipal council will have to study the site planning and architectural integration plans, applicable for the constructions on a large part of the land concerned, and then make a decision.

If Brivia goes ahead with its project next fall as planned, it will be a new start for Versant Soleil, whose development has long been delayed.

Since the construction of the Étoile du Matin complex and the Loto-Québec gaming house, which opened in 2009, Versant Soleil has not seen any other construction worthy of the name.

However, there is no longer any question of making the vicinity of the casino a business and convention destination. On the other hand, “the idea of ​​having hotels at the Versant Soleil is still in the reflections”, indicates M^me Aird.

The reflection is continuing as to the total number of dwellings that the sector will accommodate, she adds. When the casino was built, we were talking about 1,000 to 1,500 housing units at Versant Soleil.

Another developer wants to build 122 condominiums in a project called Ostrya Tremblant. In addition, the C Hotels chain has abandoned the idea of ​​building an establishment at Versant Soleil, according to the resort.

For its part, the Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant group is concerned about the accessibility of the site. “We are talking about adding 500 units to Versant Soleil, and there is already traffic on Montée Ryan,” said Jean-Luc Trahan, its president. Are there plans to increase the flow of Montée Ryan? he asks. At the time, there was talk of extending Montée Kavanagh so that it spans the Rivière du Diable and connects directly to Chemin Duplessis to create new access to Versant Soleil,” he recalls.