Former Hippodrome to be turned into fully functional neighbourhood
The City of Montreal has unveiled its plans to convert the Namur-Hippodrome area into a carbon-neutral district focusing on social housing, public transportation and greenery.
Located in the city's Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, officials say they hope "the area will stand out for its urban and mobility innovation" and leave "a minimal environmental footprint."
The plan is to build up to 20,000 new dwellings, including a potential 9,000 on the site of the former Hippodrome race track (also once named Blue Bonnets).
"A significant portion of these dwelling units will be meant for social and community housing that will be affordable and family-friendly," the city states.
There are also plans to have stores and businesses, as well as 14 hectares of green public spaces, including a central park and a green belt.
Officials note the area will be accessible and public transit-friendly with the addition of a tramway that will connect the district to the Metro system.
There are also plans for "civic activity hubs that meet the needs of the community," such as schools, a community centre, a library, sports facilities and health care facilities.
The Namur-Hippodrome neighbourhood comprises about 95 hectares of land near the Namur Metro station. The land hasn't been used for 14 years and doesn't have a water distribution system. Studies will analyze what it will cost to connect the area to infrastructure and transit.
Today's announcement comes after the city failed multiple times to build housing at the Hippodrome site, in the middle of the Island of Montreal. Pierre Boivin, CEO of investment firm Claridge, who is helping to draft a new development model for the property, says this new plan will succeed where others have failed.
Public consultations for the project are slated for this spring, with final adoption expected this fall.
Barring any complications, construction could start as early as 2025.
- With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.