Developer has plans for Îlot Voyageur
The southern part of the Îlot Voyageur that has been decrepit for years belongs has been confided to Groupe Aquilini, which wants to build on that end of the lot and wants an exception to zoning laws to build higher than permitted.
Nicholas 16:18 on 2023-08-04 Permalink
Current zoning of 16 metres is inexcusable. This is in a neighbourhood of towers, next to a grocery store and library, on top of the best connected metro station in the city, and where demand for housing from the adjacent university is incredibly high. And the developer is asking for just 8 storeys total, when there are a bunch of 20ish storey towers nearby? The city should preemptively raise the height to 120 metres and send the developer a list of crane companies before another farmer sells their land for a low density subdivision on the fringe.
Ephraim 19:18 on 2023-08-04 Permalink
We have a lot of parts of the city zoned too short, especially if we want to limit sprawl, increase density and solve the housing problems. In fact, we should have a minimum height zoning as well as a density zoning, so we don’t end up with McMansions
DeWolf 11:00 on 2023-08-05 Permalink
Aquilini doesn’t own the property, it’s owned by the city. They’ve (apparently) contracted out its development to Aquilini, although this is the first I’ve heard of it.
DeWolf 11:03 on 2023-08-05 Permalink
Aha, now I understand. Aquilini owns the *north* part of the îlot and they want to finish the current abandoned portion along St-Hubert. The QMI report is misleading.
As far as I know the city still has no plans for the southern portion, which is currently being used as an entrepôt for bike delivery companies, with a big community garden in the area where the buses used to dock.
DeWolf 11:05 on 2023-08-05 Permalink
Here are details about what Aquilini wants to do:
https://forum.agoramtl.com/t/ilot-appartements-6-a10-etages/1374
Kate 12:45 on 2023-08-05 Permalink
The style’s anodyne but the area could use those 600 units. I assume a small proportion will be social housing?