First developer picked for Hippodrome site
The city has chosen a developer for the first moves on the Hippodrome site. The borough mayor of the area, Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, wants to see a tram on the site to connect the area to Namur and de la Savane metro stations.
Nicholas 10:19 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
When they said 250-300 units, did they mean for the whole site? That’s the same density as the detached single family homes in Hampstead across the tracks. This site is 1 km from a metro. Even with much higher density, a tram doesn’t make sense for such a short distance alone, when most people will just walk, or bike if safe. A bus would do just fine. You could run a tram all the way along Jean Talon from the Hippodrome to the Blue Line or Jean Talon metro, but with the rail line just parallel, makes more sense to use that right of way for rail service with local stops one day. But if we don’t have a tram on CDN or Park, we’re not getting one here.
Kate 10:47 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
No, that number can’t be the whole site, it would be for a small part of it. The city knows there’s room for thousands of units on that piece of land.
DeWolf 10:55 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
I believe the whole site is meant to have 7,500 units.
Kevin 10:55 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
It is just the first development. The plan is still for 6,000 units.
shawn 11:11 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
Yes, this is just the first developer named. They are working by parcels of land, I think. This piece from May 2 has some additional details https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2023-05-02/developpement-des-terrains/l-opposition-s-inquiete-pour-l-hippodrome.php
shawn 11:19 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
They are not a developer in the sense that they’re builders but if you Google the non-profit “Espace La Traversée” they have been involved in a number of projects in Montreal…
Blork 15:38 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
The idea of a tram seems weird. While (up to) 1km can be a long walk, especially around there where it’s all parking lots and autoroute between the site and the Metro (grim; downright nast in winter), it doesn’t seem long enough to warrant the cost and infrastructure needed for a tram.
Unless… they built a tram that ran from the Blue Bonnets site along Jean-Talon all the way to the Jean-Talon Market. Now that would be fantastic!
Kate 15:43 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
shawn: you’re right, I should not have written “developer” but not quite sure what the proper word is. Organizer?
shawn 16:01 on 2023-05-13 Permalink
No, I was correcting myself! I don’t know what to call them either because yeah they’re not property developers in the traditional sense. Sounds like a great organization.
I mean, the bigger story is despite Montreal having this real estate boom the city hasn’t been able to attract much attention to the site. Maybe now that they have made this big announcement about social housing we’ll see more traditional developers come in? It’s a tricky area, with the rail tracks to the west…
shawn 18:58 on 2023-05-14 Permalink
I haven’t done it but if any of you budding urban developers want to answer a Canada Lands survey about what to do with the Wellington Basin, here you go: https://engage.clc-sic.ca/wellington-basin?preview=true&tool=survey_tool&tool_id=survey#tool_tab