Frequently Asked Questions

Where is this project located? And why this site?

This is an exceptional site in terms of heritage and geography. Former industrial Mecca, it faces the Lachine Canal and offers great opportunities because of its proximity to downtown and Old Montréal.

The project is bordered to the north by Ottawa Street, to the east by the Bonaventure Expressway, to the west rue du Séminaire and to the south by the Lachine Canal.

The Griffintown Project is a multifunctional urban vanguard that will be developed in the under-utilized sector of Peel / Wellington. The old brownstones are currently poorly served by public transit and local services. The project will promote development all around sector.

Griffintown will be a pleasant and safe place where Montrealers can live, work and play. This new neighbourhood for the 21st century will intelligently incorporate the Lachine Canal and the Peel Basin to consolidate ownership by Montrealers and recognize its history.

When do you plan to start the project?

If we get the approval from the City of Montréal, following public hearings scheduled for the end of February, we should begin designing plans and layouts in the spring of 2008. This phase will last one year. The first phase of the project is expected to start in 2009 and be completed in 2010 or 2011. Each phase will include a residential and commercial mix.

Is this project similar to Dix30?

There is no comparison between the two projects for the following reasons:

Griffintown is a revitalisation project for an urban area in decline for many years
The new district is going to be friendly and offer a quality of life that is rooted in the same mix of its occupants: students, singles, seniors, couples without children and young families
The project is distinguished by its multifunctional approach: quality of its public spaces, removal of surface parking, promotion of the proposed tram, integration of the Lachine Canal with the urban fabric…
The developer has already committed to investing in compliance with heritage conservation
Residences will be 65% of the total project
The project is designed in close collaboration with local organizations
The ETS will collaborate in developing the concept
All parking spaces and will be paid and underground
The project will devote considerable space to transit users, pedestrians and cyclists

Do you intend to consult citizens? Will there be information or consultation meetings soon? When?

The process of consultation with local agencies is already started for several months and will continue over the next few weeks. We are also very pleased with the participation of local stakeholders in improving this project.

The information sessions planned within the legal mechanisms will be held in late February, and will be organised by the Southwest borough of. All Montrealers will be invited to participate.

What changes has Devimco made to meet local the needs and expectations?

In order to improve the project, Devimco has established a continuous process of local consultation. The main changes to the original project are:

Significant reduction in commercial space
More prominence for the residential component (65% of the total project)
Decrease in the number of department stores
Increase in the number of heritage buildings preserved and restored
Construction of pedestrian walkways
Importance of the environmental aspect

What is the position of the City of Montréal and the Southwest borough?

The City of Montréal executive committee gave the greenlight to develop a plan particulier d’urbanisme (PPU). In this context, we will continue our stakeholder information and consultation process initiated last June in an effort to improve the project. We will continue to meet with local organizations and citizens, and work committees, even after the decision by the City of Montréal, to be handled by the Southwest borough at the end of February, for the benefit of all Montréalers.

The City of Montréal and the Southwest borough are contributing to the efforts of the work group set up last June at the request of the Mayor of Montréal, to enhance the project and to support its implementation.

Does the project include affordable housing?

Yes. The construction of social and affordable housing in Griffintown is in line with the strategy of inclusion of the City of Montréal, which promotes residential diversity within the same project.

Does the project include houses or condos? If yes, how many?

Students and seniors can find homes tailored to their needs. Condos will also be built for singles, couples without children and young families.

We want to create an environment for residents who live and work in the same neighbourhood.

What are the various occupancy proportions of the project?

The residential portion will be 65% and the commercial portion will be 18%. The recreotourist portion will be 13%, and office space will be 4%.

Will buildings have to be demolished?

We plan to conserve 12 buildings and relocate two others. Four buildings will be demolished and rebuilt in part but none of them — like the rest of the buildings in the sector — are classified or recognized under the Heritage Building Act.

In addition, we will improve the remains of the Church of St. Anne and recall the history of the Irish presence in this former popular neighbourhood through various educational initiatives.

How many jobs will be created once the project is completed?

4330 jobs during operation. But don’t forget the 10,000 person-years during the construction period.

The promoter and RESO have agreed to seek the best impact on creating and maintaining jobs. They have created a businesses relocation committee to promote expansion and job creation, in close collaboration with the Southwest borough. They will also develop a workforce training strategy to encourage hiring locally.

What kinds of jobs will be available?

There will be jobs in catering, hotels, culture, tourism and offices. We are committed to paying RESO $200,000 to contribute to the creation of a training program that will enable Southwest borough citizens to better their knowledge in order meet the demands of jobs that will be created by the Griffintown Project.

Do St. Catherine Street merchants have reason to worry?

It must be remembered that the commercial activities of the Griffintown Project represent only 18% of the total area.

On the other hand, a study commissioned by the City of Montréal to Geocom, and commented on by Jacques Nantel, HEC Montréal, proves that the commercial impact of this project could be totally positive, even for shops already working in the sector. In his study, Jacques Nantel noted that among the population residing in downtown Montréal, more than 55% of durable and semi-durable goods are purchased from outside the area. Our project will therefore retain consumers in Montréal. The vast majority of the offering will be complementary.

Is the proposed tram a prerequisite to the success of Griffintown?

A means of transportation is essential to properly connect the site to downtown and Old Montréal. Devimco has promised to invest $10 million in the proposed tram service.

If the tram is not realized at the start of the project, we must agree on an interim mode of transport. But public transportation is essential to the vitality of all the districts involved.

Will traffic get heavier?

The City of Montréal is currently conducting a study of traffic that will give us the answer to that question. We have given special attention to this issue. That is why we have insisted on the development of an alternative public transportation system. We also have planned for paid underground parking spaces.

With the cultural and heritage centre you talk about, is there a risk of harming the development of the entertainment district?

We have met officials of the district to explain our project in more detail and hear their concerns. Since last November, we have revised our plans and now we are planning to build cultural and heritage centre.

We have redesigned the project to include culture, history, heritage and tourism. The centre, located along the Bonaventure Expressway and the Lachine Canal, will serve the cultural needs of the borough as needed for a variety of events such as shows, exhibitions and activities highlighting the history of Griffintown and the Lachine Canal, as well as conferences and other forms of festivities.

What environmental protection measures are you planning to apply?

In a bid to decrease noise, no equipment will be installed on rooftops.
Electricity is the greenest of fuels and will therefore be used in more than 90% of cases.
At least 75% of the energy released will be recovered during evacuation using a thermal wheel.
Efficient lighting will be installed, using 75% less energy and lasting ten times longer than standart lighting.
Energy from wastewater will be recovered and used to help decrease consumption of drinking water. For instance, we will install urinals with ultra-low consumption levels (0.125 gal/flush instead of 1 gal/flush).
Water from the Lachine Canal will be used for coolig. The energy will be piped through to the rental spaces using heat pumps that will allow for recovery.