After years of talk, a non-profit group in Cote-St-Luc has announced a potential plan to relocate the CP railyards but city officials said it’s not necessary.
The group is headed by former CSL Mayor Robert Libman, who said he sees a lot of potential in the 22 million square foot plot of land, which is roughly one third the size of the suburb.
Libman has enlisted a group of McGill University graduate students to come up with some ideas for the future of the site.
“There are particular challenges and opportunities that come with that,” said urban planning student Zoe Chapin.
Libman said he wants to see CP sell the land and promised a feasibility study and new vision for the yards by February.
“If CP and CN recognize the benefits from an economic point of view, from an urban planning point of view, from a real estate point of view… the value of the land they are sitting on right in the middle of Montreal, then we feel it can create the momentum for them to consider such a project,” he said.
However, CSL Mayor Mitchel Brownstein said talks with CP over the future of the land are well underway.
“Considering that all parties are on board for the Cavendish extension, the federal, provincial and municipal (levels), I think we develop this land and the extension goes through,” he said. “It’s going to be a whole new hub on the island of Montreal.”
Brownstein pointed to CP’s recent acquisition of land in Cedres near Vaudreuil as a potential future site of new railyards. However, CP refused to comment on its plan for that land. A spokesperson said relocating any railyards are “a complex and serious issue.”
The current mayor also questioned Libman’s motives, saying the new group could be “disruptive” and “sounds quite political.”
While Libman is a registered lobbyist, he said he has no vested interest and got involved as a resident who was tired of waiting for action.
