Joel Ceausu – The Suburban LJI Reporter
The city of Montreal has a seven-year, $1.8 billion dollar plan to revive downtown Montreal, betting on nine initiatives to strengthen the identity of neighborhoods, create new living environments and improving mobility and cleanliness, as well as the creation of green routes.
Some of the new Downtown Montreal 2030 Strategy priorities: Strengthen the personality of neighborhoods through new distinctive street furniture, highlighting heritage specific to different living environments and public art circuits; celebrate the city centre’s “northern character” by creating a unique winter experience supported by interactive and immersive tours in the heart of the metropolis; designate the Latin Quarter “the Quartier Francophonie”, with a 24-hour sector and carry out major development projects notably at Îlot Voyageur and Parc Émilie-Gamelin; create new mixed and vibrant neighborhoods in the Faubourgs and Bridge-Bonaventure sectors, with the potential to create more than 15,000 housing units; prioritize investments in existing buildings in order to reverse the trend of increasing vacancy rates, particularly at the former Royal Victoria Hospital and Voyageur Island; and improve the cleanliness of public spaces, building maintenance and management of obstacles.
Implementation will unfold over the next six years and be the subject of public announcements, and the city will “put in place governance made up of key partners to ensure the projects are carried out” reads a statement.
Even if the city centre is “doing rather well,” says the administration, “certain challenges have become more pronounced in recent years,” in terms of occupation of spaces in office towers, commercial vitality, social issues or mobility.
Tourisme Montréal CEO Yves Lalumière says global economic growth is slowing and metropolises are facing increased competition to attract the best investments and talent. “This context requires us to redouble our efforts so that Quebec’s economic engine performs well on the international scene. By leveraging our most strategic assets, such as an innovative economy and a qualified talent pool, Montreal will be able to remain a destination of choice for workers, businesses and international organizations from all over the planet.”
Ensemble Montréal’s critic for economic development was unimpressed. One of the biggest problems is the lack of action in terms of security and social cohabitation, said Julien Hénault-Ratelle, adding, “With the extension of street parking hours to 11 p.m. in Ville-Marie borough, coupled with the construction of the new Royalmount Mega-Mall and the presence of outlet centres like DIX30 and in Laval, people are no longer as interested in coming downtown to Montreal.” The Plante administration’s plan he says, “is too little, too late. After two years of working on this plan, we were expecting much more from Projét Montréal.” n