The City of Montreal today presented the Master Development Plan (MDP) for the Bridge-Bonaventure sector, which provides for the exemplary development of this neighborhood. The plan calls for a major share of non-market housing, access to the waterfront, a prime location for economic and institutional activities, greening, community facilities and spaces, and architectural quality.
To provide a sustainable response to the housing crisis, this sector will be able to accommodate up to 13,500 new units, significantly exceeding the targets set out in the Règlement pour une métropole mixte. The City applauds the efforts of Canada Lands Company, which will make it possible to protect from speculation 50% of the units located on its land in the Wellington Basin and the Pointe Saint-Charles triangle. On these sites, which are already served by infrastructure, construction can begin as early as next year.
This plan includes an increase of more than 6,000 units over the previously presented plan. The Bridge-Bonaventure sector is the 6th and final district planned by the Plante administration. It joins Louvain-Est, Lachine-Est, Namur-Hippodrome, the Blue Line extension sector and the Faubourgs sector, which includes the Molson. Ultimately, these new neighborhoods will be home to more than 70,000 households, in a complete living environment featuring access to nature and units protected from speculation.
In all, five major orientations have been developed:
- An economic vocation strengthened by living and working environments that respect the spirit of the place;
- The protection and enhancement of heritage and landscape components;
- The development of attractive gateway routes with unique landscapes, enriching the experience of all users;
- Strengthening active and public transport connections and travel at the heart of mobility;
- Networking public spaces and emblematic sites, supported by a green and blue network.
In concrete terms, covering an area of 2.3 km2, the PDMV provides 43 hectares of green public spaces, including a riverside promenade, as well as easy access to the St. Lawrence River and Lachine Canal, including a swimming area at the Wellington Basin.
The local economy is not left out, as the plan creates the winning conditions for the Pointe Saint-Charles Business Park to continue to flourish. It also includes the creation of the Quartier des artisans, combining economy and heritage, and the maintenance of economic activity zones and local jobs. A total of 600,000 m2 will be dedicated to economic and institutional activities to stimulate local jobs, businesses, services and shops.
The development of the Bridge-Bonaventure sector will encourage active transportation, such as walking and cycling, as well as public transit. In fact, the plan calls for 12 km of bike lanes, new links for active modes of transportation, and the addition of a Réseau express métropolitain station.
To address the impacts of climate change, the plan also calls for increased street greening, helping to reduce heat islands and promote ecological stormwater management.
The PDMV for the Bridge-Bonaventure sector was developed in coherence with the draft Urban Planning and Mobility Plan presented last year, and follows two public consultations conducted by the OCPM.
Quotes
“We are extremely proud and proud of this master plan, an essential milestone that I wanted to achieve before the end of the mandate. The Bridge-Bonaventure master plan is a calling card for what our administration has been doing and championing for the past eight years: developing complete neighborhoods that are connected to public transit, affordable, green and prosperous. Thanks to our close collaboration with real estate developers, we will be leaving an exemplary neighborhood that includes an employment hub, affordable housing and green spaces connected to the river, just a stone's throw from downtown,” says Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal.
“It was essential for us to propose a project adapted to the current context and future needs. It's a project connected to reality that responds to the housing crisis, declining demand for office space, rising demand for industry, and of course, the need to offer an employment hub linked to downtown and the next REM station. This new district is rooted in the vision of a large city on a human scale, which our administration has always defended through the planning of neighborhoods,” added Robert Beaudry, elected member responsible for urban planning, the OCPM and homelessness on the executive committee.
“Right from the outset, the RMM modalities are being applied throughout the area, but thanks to the collaboration of CLC, the mobilization of the population and listening to the real estate community, we're going much further. We're reaching proportions of 40-50% off-market housing, notably in the Pointe Saint-Charles Triangle and Wellington Basin sectors, and we'll be going even further in other areas. We're building more, and we're not compromising on affordability,” commented Benoit Dorais, mayor of the Sud-Ouest borough and responsible for housing on the Ville de Montréal executive committee.
“We welcome the presentation of the Master Plan for the Development of the Bridge-Bonaventure Sector by the City of Montreal. This plan represents a unique opportunity to transform this area into a dynamic and inclusive place. We look forward to working with all the groups involved to develop our land in this area, including Pointe-du-Moulin (including Silo no. 5) and Bassin Wellington, for housing, retail, public green spaces and access to the Lachine Canal, including a swimming basin. This plan will undoubtedly contribute to Montreal's prosperity,” added Stéphan Déry, President and CEO of Canada Lands Company.
