internationalx

Who do you think is buying all the condos going up in any major N-A city? Miami is booming: Latin Americans, Russians. New York: Russians, Chinese, Latin American, Los Angeles: Russians, Chinese, Koreans. Toronto: same story. Do you think the local populations are supporting the towers that are rising in these cities? Foreigners are buying the bulk of these units. If that's happening in Montreal is that really a surprise. And who cares who is buying? Gotta love the JdM though: lumping Chinese and Anglophone's together: two groups of "les autres" according to them.

Agreed! Nice to see this part of R-L getting the long-needed attention.

Autograph Collection is literally a collection of independent hotels - they are not managed by Marriott but rather leverage the company's strengths: reservations systems, loyalty programs, buying power (for supplies), heath insurance (US), etc… the key being that they are independent/boutique properties. Therefore, I don't believe this will be an Autograph Collection Hotel. Would love to see an Andaz (Hyatt) or Edition (Marriott/Schrager) open here; the architecture however, as approved, would need to be rethought.

Super chic!

This a nice little project in a great location. Would do wonders for the street. Hope it gets built.

It should be built as rentals… then convert when the market is stronger. Downtown needs rentals!

Yes, start to re-develop some of the already occupied sites: I can count 4 buildings that could be demo'd for better land-use/increased density and improved architecture. Domtar, that Union parking garage among them...

Maybe it won't be so bad. The renderings aren't great…. plus some day the Tour QdS will block it from the Place des Festivals.

Really great shot! So nice to see Montreal filling-up. And with tall buildings no less. The blue glass of Icone is really apparent here.

Let's see how fast this one sells out - or doesn't. Personally, this TDC is more appealing than TDC1. It's sexier by far architecturally. And the land-use, motor-court in the rear, landscaping around it add to the higher-end feel of the tower. Not to mention the all-glass envelop. But ugh… the height is basically the same as Deloitte.

This project just doesn't do anything for me. If anything, it belongs one block over - to the south.

Honestly, there is no reason that that parcel (750 Peel) shouldn't be allowed to go up to 200M. It is surrounded by the the CBD to the north and east, with some light industrial buildings too; from the south and west, its' basically a no-man's land, a blank canvas that is already zoned 120M. Plus, the fact that the elevation is lower should make it even more compelling a place to build to the max height…

The AC brand is Marriott's concept for Millennials - younger, hipper, less stuffy than a traditional Marriott hotel. So, I would say it's a good addition to Montreal's hotel inventory. Don't get me wrong, I'd love a Mandarin Oriental or the long-stalled Waldorf=Astoria, but it's good that the city is getting the newly launched brands of some of the old guard.

… If you didn't know any better, looking at that diagram, you would think that the proposed project has nothing to do with Maison Alcan - other than being on a neighboring lot!

I respect Phyllis Lambert but disagree with her alarmist reaction to this project. I'm sorry, but that city block is moribund. It needs to be reinvented for the 21st century. As we know, there is very little being altered. The Maison Alcan is, for the most part staying intact. The new building is way down the block, much closer to de Maisonneuve. Perhaps they can revisit how they integrate the Donnacona Building.

Good. I hope the subject gets more mainstream press and results in a real civic dialogue about architecture in this city. Developers need to know citizens expect more.

Don't worry, Bumbaru is on the case now. Vows to have the Maison Alcan declared a heritage complex. (Overreaction to the MAX now).

Awesome shot! From this view, the impact of the Maison Alcan tower is going to be MAJOR! (Let's hope it doesn't get derailed)

So ridiculous. The complex is being upgraded for 21st century needs. It is not being demolished…it's being altered. I would bet you that Ray Affleck, who originally conceived and designed the Maison Alcan, would be ok with the Lemay proposal.

This is also Sherbrooke Street - Montreal's most elegant address that has, in recent years, been renewing itself; it's a lot more polished and lively than I can ever remember it. This project would really inject a lot more life into the area. And that's a good thing. If only we could have gotten the Waldorf built at the other end!

Totally over-reacting to this project. Maison Alcan, while celebrated in its time, has become moribund. Even with its anchor tenant still there. New life needs to be breathed into that block that is certain. Let's be real: from Sherbrooke Street, the complex will hardly change. The big changes are mid-block - a mid-block that is lifeless. The singular building proposed to be demolished is not an integral part of the Maison. It's almost an afterthought. Moreover, the Donnacona Building (I believe) needs to find a more useful vocation and integrating it into the proposed project is wise. I truly believe this project will rejuvenate the complex and the area. It's also an economic issue: the buyers paid a lot of money for the Maison Alcan and it needs to be repositioned to extract as much value out of it as they can. Investors don't (often) buy things to maintain them as they are. They have to create value here. Simple as that.

LMAO. Is IC serious?? Cry babies. Their arguments hold zero water! Peel and St-Antoine is the middle of downtown and has been a blight for DECADES! They are basically asking the city to regulate development to certain areas of the CBD. I mean, what?? That's lunacy. If someone wants to build something in a blighted, abandoned area, a project(s) that will breath life into the city, then that is their choice. If IC's products are so so great, they will attract top tier tenants. Competition is good. And building Montreal-up is good. Increased density is good. More residents, more business, more bustle. All good things. Increased density is also green. IC is being a sore loser. They feel like Montreal is their turf and they don't like CF -or anyone else - coming in and doing big things? Quad Windsor is the most transformative and exciting project since PVM. It's up to CF to decide what to build and if to build based on their business - can they attract the tenants, can they sell the condos. If they decide they can't, because of the market or otherwise, that's their sole decision.

I believe there is an alleyway between the UDA building and this project. So no, there shouldn't be a blind wall.

I am the biggest cheerleader for historic preservation but sometimes you have to recognize that (1) not every building is worthy of being preserved and 2) in certain areas of the downtown core we have to give them up where density is a priority. If there was a whole row of houses, I would be an advocate of restoration. But in this case, it would not be a loss. The Golden Square Mile should have been designated a historic district in the 1960's. It's also a land-value issue. A developer could build a 20-story hotel here. That's what happens in areas that are up-zoned.

It's interesting: I like the black panels much more than the beige-ish ones. But even those have a unique look with the black window frames. They all have a very Lego-esque look to to them. These aren't the typical pre-fab panels. The much larger windows (and more of them) plus the black lining of the windows gives it a unique look.