Royalmount set to open this summer
Radio-Canada has a preview of Royalmount, where the commercial elements are expected to open this summer. TMR is still blocking the request for a zoning change to allow for residential development, but even if this did change, Carbonleo has no intention of including any social housing in the vast project. There’s also mention of eventual office towers, although at this stage, is there any point?
carswell 21:48 on 2024-01-14 Permalink
Depuis le début de notre mandat, nous avons précisé notre position concernant l’ajout d’une composante résidentielle au projet commercial Royalmount et avons maintenu qu’il n’y aurait pas de changement au zonage actuel qui ne permet pas l’ajout d’une composante résidentielle au projet commercial existant, a soutenu le maire de Mont-Royal, Peter J. Malouf.
Malouf, who claims the election that put him in office was a referendum on the issue, is echoing popular sentiment in the Town, whose citizens are wary of the current project (largely concerns about increased traffic) and strongly opposed to any residential component (traffic concerns again but also a fear that Town services, such as their woefully outdated recreation centre and always busy library, will be overwhelmed).
IIRC, former mayor Roy wasn’t opposed to having some housing on the site and argued that people who chose to live there would not have much use for these services but he was pretty much shouted down and so aggressively insulted/threatened that he decided to abandon politics (way to go, social media!).
If the Town continues to resist, Quebec City needs to get involved, either behind the scenes (e.g. “You want a provincial grant for a new recreation centre or don’t you?”) or through legislation imposing the required zoning changes if that’s legally possible (anybody know?).
steph 22:36 on 2024-01-14 Permalink
It’s 100% possible for Quebec to just redraw boundary lines of municipalities. Quebec could technically take the entirety of Royal-Mount away from Mont-Royal with the stroke of the pen.
Does anyone know the outcome of the south shore cities that sued the province for taking away some of their land? Châteauguay, St-Isidore, St-Constant and Ste-Catherine launched the lawsuit in 2013. Their boundaries were redrawn to follow the A30 highway, handing over the land on the far side of the highway to Kahnawake. Boohoo.
js 00:15 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
“Carbonleo a également investi 20 millions de dollars pour ajouter deux voies au chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse pour faciliter l’accès en automobile.”
That’s nice for shoppers coming directly from the airport, but I invite anyone reading this to ask google to show them how to get to the entrance to this place (any of the possible ones) from where they are by car. Keep in mind that traffic on Royalmount, Devonshire, and whatever the service road is called in front of where Carbonleo’s new two lanes of Cote de Liesse will descend is dominated by lumbering eighteen wheelers going to and coming from the Dollarama distribution centres next door.
Although I admit to looking forward to the aquarium.
JP 00:39 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
I literally work next door… at the corner of Decarie and Royalmount. I don’t have anything helpful to add to the discussion except that I am NOT looking forward to the opening of this place.. more office buildings??? A good chunk of our building is vacant….
Yeah, the aquarium might be fun for a visit or 2.
Also, and I know this isn’t the right place to kvetch about this, but traffic is already….difficult there…how it will be when this opens…I have no idea but I’m not looking forward to it.
jeather 10:45 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
I work nearby, and I am not sure how much it might affect my traffic patterns (bus or car), but I wouldn’t mind slightly better food options if it offers any. I’m curious about the actual interest in Louis Vuitton and Chanel etc.
Ephraim 11:18 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
I wish that Montreal simply had the guts to refuse access to Cote-de-Liesse and Decarie and required all traffic to be routed via TMR streets, de la Savane and Devonshire. The connections, entrances and exits for the 15 and 40 in the area are already difficult and dangerous. You add more traffic, you should be responsible for paying for the roads too.
carswell 12:10 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
@steph Threatening to redraw the town borders and handing Royalmount and maybe the entire TMR industrial park to Montreal would certainly get the town’s attention and, one way or another, produce the desired result. “Nice town you have here. Be a shame if something happened to it, eh?”
Uatu 13:24 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
Really interesting to see office towers because last night 60 Minutes had a story of how office space in downtown New York has become emptied and practically useless. Maybe it’ll work here since it’s closer to residential areas, but it probably would be half the size of what they pictured if they want a decent ROI.
Like I said before I’m just waiting for the giant arcade/indoor surfing/rock climbing wall/year round skating rink etc. to show up when the boutiques close because there’s only so much designer junk you can sell to a small group of super bougie clientele who can afford it.
Ian 20:13 on 2024-01-15 Permalink
Considering how badly just having the Rockland Plaza where it is affected the access to Acadie from Cote de Liesse with everyone trying to cut across 3 lanes I can only imagine what a poop storm Royalmount will be. Even now it’s best to completely avoid the 15/40 any time even vaguely approaching peak hours.
Why, it’s almost as if TMR doesn’t actually care /s
bob 14:42 on 2024-01-16 Permalink
i think this thing is going to fail hard, and we’ll be left with nothing but a set for dystopian movies. It’ll be like Man and his World ca. 1985.
Chase 09:53 on 2024-01-17 Permalink
“….but I wouldn’t mind slightly better food options if it offers any.”
This is very promising, a Sammi Soup will be opening at RM.
https://www.sammisoupedumpling.ca/restaurants