Achi news desk-
A large industrial sector wedged between Griffintown and Pointe-Saint-Charles could soon be visible.
The Canada Lands Corporation (CLC) has plans to develop part of the sector known as the Wellington Basin.
Processing of a new development project in the Wellington Basin in Montreal. (Source: Canada Lands Company)
“We see that these areas have an opportunity to really create a focal point and be a special place and give an identity to the whole neighborhood,” said Christopher Sweetnam-Holmes, senior real estate manager of the federal Crown Corporation in Quebec.
The vision is to turn old industrial sites into residences. They want 2,800 new homes built with 1,000 dedicated units for affordable and social housing.
Processing of a new development project in the Wellington Basin in Montreal. (Source: Canada Lands Company)
“What we’re presenting today is the vision for the site,” said Marcelo Gomez-Wiakstern, the CLC’s vice president of corporate communications and public affairs. “After that, we work with the municipality to obtain approvals for designation, and then we sell the lot to various developers, but they have to respect the vision.”
The Wellington Basin project will also include an urban beach, three new parks and a sector dedicated to artists.
Processing of a new development project in the Wellington Basin in Montreal. (Source: Canada Lands Company)
The plan would need approval from the city of Montreal, which already has a vision for the area.
“This is public land managed by the Canadian government,” said Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante. “Of course we have high expectations in terms of housing, but it’s also in terms of a mixed city, in terms of access to water.”
Housing advocates are happy to see more homes being built, but they are concerned about the cost of affordable units.
Processing of a new development project in the Wellington Basin in Montreal. (Source: Canada Lands Company)
“The definition of affordable housing and social housing can be a bit vague, and we really don’t know if these new units will meet the needs of Montrealers who need affordable housing,” said Margaret Van Noten, a member of the Genesis Project.
Canada Lands will have to clear the land and then sell individual lots to developers.
“We have significant cleanup costs that we plan to spend at least $77 million in cleanup costs, which is not insignificant,” Sweetnam-Holmes said.
The plan could take 10 to 15 years to complete, and Crown Corporation hopes to have shovels in the ground by 2025.
