Residential projects in the four corners of Lachine

In these projects, we find a number of different kinds of developments: new developments, social housing and conversion projects.

The Havre Saint-Louis projects on 32nd Avenue, completing the Village Saint-Louis, which started construction in 1984, is comprised of 86 townhouses and 126 co-op apartments. The project was kicked off in 2004 and is unique in that it sets aside land in the development for common green space.

Les Cours Sherbrooke, a residential project at the corner of 32nd Avenue and Sherbrooke Street, is a project to be constructed in four phases and will consist of 204 housing units. Thirty-nine co-op units were also constructed in the last year, and three other buildings are yet to go up.

Other projects of less impressive size were begun in 2004; they make up aboput 50 total units spread across the borough.

Many out-of-date factories and industrial spaces have been converted int condominiums, co-ops and lofts. Here are the projects that have been completed or are currently underway.

Les Cours des Rosiers is a project that comprises 126 housing units in a square delineated by Victoria Street, 19th Avenue, Remembrance Street and 21st Avenue. Fifty-five of the units were built in 2004. The three-year project also added 30 townhouses.

On 1st Avenue near Highway 20, the old General Electric factory is getting new life as home to 100 new housing units, some of which are studios. The old Zimmcor factory on Sherbrooke Street was demolsihed to make way for 70 units, of which 35 were built in 2004. Finally, the old post office at the corner on St. Joseph Boulevard was converted into 27 condo units, while a vacant building on Mount Vernon Avenue – which had lain dormant for a decade – was converted into two 10-unit apartment buildings.

Lachine received a large part of the Solidarité 5000 social-housing share. The program allowed for the construction of a nujber of social-housing units designed to help out people in financial crisis to find a reasonable place to live for a moderate rent. The projects initiated are the following: Les Brises de Lachine, 250 units for autonomous seniors (The first phase was 141 units, built in 2004). The building, situated on Notre Dame Street sits on the old Bingo Lachine site. Two co-op units, Jardin d’Éden (south of Highway 20, east of 24th Avenue) and Des Érables (21 units on Des Erables Street). Two more were slated for construction in 2005: Saint-Pierre-aux-liens (44 units on Ouellette Street) et La Louisiane (24 units on Notre Dame Street). In addition, a seniors' residence (83 units) on Ouellette Street and Entraide Lachine, a residence for adults with intellectual handicaps (24 units on Notre Dame Street) This particular housing boom is a firm sign of strong economic vitality for the coming years.

In 2005, Lachine submitted its portion of the urban plan to Montreal, and it was heavily flavoured by what citizens had suggested for the future of Lachine. The aging of the population and changes in family structures have changed what people require from their homes, and that affected the borough;s housing plan. That's why the borough adopted a bylaw allowing, in certain cases, the construction of multigenerational homes, enlargement of an existing facility or the additiojn of a second residence on a single-family property, under certain conditions.

The borough also authorized over the course of the year a number of diverse zoing changes in light of all the residential development. In fact,. 2005 was just as busy a year as 2004.

In 2006, residential developers continued the projects they started in 2005. The Havre Saint-Louis project saw another 60 units built. Borough council adopted a new law allowing for the conversion of certain rental properties into co-ops in certain districts. In 2007, other work and innovations in this regard were carried out, and the Havre Saint-Louis prject should wrap up this year with the completion of 60 to 80 units.

The planning exercise of eastern Lachine, comprising the old Jenkins Valves factory, has wrapped up. The borough has received the plan from the developer and will compriose nearly 500 housing multi-family housing units and townhouses.

A project comprising a little more than 200 townhouse units will see the light if day on Émile-Pominville Street in the Saint-Pierre district.

A portion of the Harrington factory on 1st Avenue, near Highway 20, will be converted into condominiums and multi-family units. It will eventually boast about 120 housing units.