Requalification of Namur-Jean-Talon Ouest area: Borough orientations well
received

MONTREAL, March 5 /CNW Telbec/ - The Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) makes public today the report on the consultation on the requalification project for the Namur-Jean-Talon Ouest area in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges - Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

The Office de consultation publique de Montréal received a mandate from the Montréal executive committee to conduct a participative consultation process aimed at drawing up a master plan for the area.

Some 260 people took part in the discussions with targeted groups, either at the public forum or in one of the sessions for the presentation of briefs. Twenty-four briefs were filed with the commission. The orientations proposed by the borough received an agreement in principle, and participants were aware of the improvements the revitalization would bring. The issue of greening, especially, obtained a consensus, and the commission recommends that trees and public green spaces be made an identifying feature of the area and a characteristic of the developments.

However, although overall the basic orientations were well received, the area's current users feel that more attention should be paid to their needs, notably in terms of availability of social and community housing, low-cost outdoor parking, and access to stores.

It is important to note that the borough has undertaken a revitalization process for the area, aiming, notably, to create a quality mixed living environment through active transportation and a larger percentage of green spaces. Many recognized the benefits in using the proximity of three metro stations to create a space layout favouring pedestrians and public transportation.

The residential density of the sector would also increase. The plan calls for the construction of 3200 housing units over a period of 15 years. The residential densification should be carried out, in accordance with the borough's wishes, by promoting mixed housing types and a social mix, in keeping with City of Montréal policies and strategies, including the Strategy for the inclusion of affordable housing.

The participants strongly hoped that the residential densification would serve to create a family, cosmopolitan and mixed neighbourhood, both socially and economically. In that respect, the place accorded to social, community and affordable housing would ensure a good mix, which, in turn, would ensure the area's safety, richness and interest.

The commission recommends that all available tools to create affordable housing and, more particularly, social housing accessible to those most in need, be gathered into an integrated plan providing facts and figures. It recommends that, as a priority and in the short term, efforts be devoted to the reconversion of buildings on Mountain Sights Avenue, making sure that municipal housing health and safety regulations are rigorously applied.

To counter parking and traffic problems, the commission recommends that a detailed supply-and-demand profile be established for residents, businesses and office buildings, and that a study be carried out on the changes' impacts on the street grid, notably on access to stores.

All information available on the project as well as the consultation report may be obtained at the offices of the OCPM and on its Web site at www.ocpm.qc.ca.

For further information: Luc Doray, [phone], [phone] (Cell)