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Nom: Icône Hauteur en étages: 40 Hauteur en mètres: 146 Coût du projet: 120 000 000,00$ Promoteur: Stationnement Metropolitain et Groupe Essaris Architecte: Béïque, Legault, Thuot Architectes Entrepreneur général: Pomerleau Emplacement: Coin nord-est de la Montagne / René-Lévesque O. Début de construction: Printemps 2013 pour la phase 1 Fin de construction: Juin 2016 pour la phase 1 Site internet: http://iconecondos.com/ Lien webcam: Autres informations: Le restaurant Queue de Cheval sera transformé en Bier Markt au courant de 2013. La tour de 40 étages (phase 1) sera composée de 357 appartements (condos). La tour de 27 étages (phase 2) sera composée de commerces, bureaux, appartements locatifs et hôtel, La queue de cheval déménage temporairement à 1234 de la montagne et ce jusqu'au fin des travaux à 1181 de la montagne. Rumeurs: 70% vendu en date de avril 2013 Images (cliquez pour agrandir) : Vidéo promotionnelle:

Projet locatif de 18 étages à côté de Concordia http://www.lobby.gouv.qc.ca/servicespublic/consultation/AfficherInscription.aspx?NumeroInscription=3teoJdC%2bIdl2362AMJKTRg%3d%3d#D107088

Bizarre qu'il n'y ait aucune discussion sur ce projet d'un Centre culturel tchèque et hôtel sur le terrain de volleyball extérieur au coin de Séminaire et Olier datant de 2010 qu'un de mes voisins m'a mentionné cette semaine. Le propriétaire du terrain est Parcs Canada, mais l'homme d'affaires George Syrovatka/Centre tchèque inc. a un bail pour une location de 99 ans coût de 1$ pour ce terrain depuis 2002. L'un d'entre vous aurait de l'information sur ce projet depuis cet article de la Gazette en octobre 2010? https://www.pressreader.com/canada/montreal-gazette/20101008/283953173928783

Bientôt à Montréal: complexes de 4 tours, 3 hôtels et condos 2 mai 2008 - 06h29 La Presse Laurier Cloutier Trois complexes immobiliers comprenant quatre tours de 32 à 40 étages, trois hôtels et des centaines de condos doivent être lancés bientôt dans le secteur du boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest et des rues Guy et Mackay, à Montréal. Des investisseurs étrangers veulent ainsi miser plus de 400 millions de dollars sur Montréal, au rythme d'au moins 100 millions pour chacune des quatre tours. «Il y aura décidément beaucoup d'hôtels dans ce coin» de l'ouest du centre-ville, déclare à La Presse Affaires le porte-parole de l'arrondissement de Ville-Marie, Jacques-Alain Lavallée. En outre, la chaîne Marriott prévoit construire deux autres hôtels, en plus de terminer d'ici août celui de l'aéroport Dorval-Trudeau (120 millions, 275 chambres) avec l'entrepreneur Axor et le Fonds FTQ. Le vice-président principal au développement de Marriott Canada, Michael J. Beckley, confirme que la chaîne hissera sa bannière à l'ombre de la Place-Ville-Marie, au sud-est de la rue Cathcart, sur un hôtel de 150 chambres, construit avec le Groupe Daca.Marriott Canada va de plus aménager un hôtel au mégacentre Faubourg Boisbriand (ex-usine GM) avec le promoteur américain du Maryland Urgo Butts&Co., déjà présent à la station Tremblant, à l'aéroport Dorval-Trudeau, dans le Vieux-Montréal et à Québec. «Ça va beaucoup bouger dans ce secteur du boulevard René-Lévesque», souligne par ailleurs l'architecte Michelange Panzini. Le président de Panzini Conseils met en effet la dernière main à un projet «spectaculaire» d'hôtel et de condos, dans deux tours de 38 et 32 étages, sur le terrain d'un stationnement au sud-est de René-Lévesque et de Guy, à quelques pas du Centre Bell et du quartier des affaires. Tout près, le Crystal de la Montagne, édifice de 27 étages et de 80 millions, offre pour la première fois à Montréal le concept d'un hôtel surmonté de condos. Après de nombreux rebondissements, au fil de sa gestation, les investisseurs américains viennent de donner «le feu vert au démarrage du projet», déclare Michelange Panzini. Les promoteurs ont finalement décidé, par contre, de ne pas dévoiler leur projet avant une conférence de presse, «dans quelques semaines», et la confirmation des permis, «à la fin de mai ou au début de juin», ajoute l'architecte. L'arrondissement de Ville-Marie attend toujours le dépôt de documents avant d'accorder les permis pour les deux tours de M. Panzini, réplique le porte-parole, Jacques-Alain Lavallée. Par contre, «ces tours de 38 et 32 étages de la rue Guy respectent en principe les normes, ajoute Jacques-Alain Lavallée, contrairement aux deux autres de la rue Mackay (nord-ouest et sud-est) qui pourraient y déroger, pour la hauteur. La première pelletée de terre n'est pas pour demain dans ce cas-ci». Quant à la chaîne hôtelière Hilton, qui doit accrocher son enseigne au projet de M. Panzini, elle a déjà travaillé avec lui. Par contre, déclare John Koshivos, directeur du développement de Hilton Amérique du Nord, «les négociations se poursuivent et les jeux ne sont pas encore faits, pas avant de huit à 12 semaines». John Koshivos va ouvrir un Hilton Garden Inn de 216 chambres d'ici juillet, à l'angle de la rue Sherbrooke et de l'avenue du Parc, après le nouvel Embassy Suites, face au Palais des congrès de Montréal. «Les investisseurs étrangers aiment Montréal non seulement pour les bas prix, mais aussi pour la qualité de la ville», dit Michelange Panzini. «Il y a beaucoup de projets d'hôtels à Montréal et d'autres à l'étude, mais le rythme des ouvertures va ralentir un peu, car le taux d'occupation a baissé depuis un an», souligne Gilles Larivière, président de Horwath Horizon Consultants, de Montréal, société canadienne spécialisée dans l'hôtellerie et le tourisme.

Le Crystal de La Montagne Architectes: Béïque, Legault, Thuot Fin de la construction:2007 Utilisation: Résidentiel - Hôtel Emplacement: Centre-ville, Montréal ? mètres - 27 étages Maquette/photo maquette gracieuseté d'Ateliers Multiversions inc. http://www.multiversions.qc.ca

Nom: Hôtel Mount Stephen Hauteur en étages: 11 Hauteur en mètres: Coût du projet: 25 000 000,00$ Promoteur: Groupe Tidan Architecte: Lemay Entrepreneur général: Emplacement: Début de construction: Fin de construction: printemps 2017 Site internet: Lien webcam: Autres informations: Hôtel de 80 chambres sera construit à l'arrière de l'immeuble Rumeurs: Aperçu artistique du projet: Maquette: Autres images: Vidéo promotionnelle:

Projet d'hôtel de luxe de 20 étages sur le site de l'ancienne maison hantée, rue de Bleury.

Nom: Holiday Inn Montréal Centre-Ville Hauteur en étages: 37 Hauteur en mètres: 120 Coût du projet: Promoteur: Canvar Architecte: Architex Group Entrepreneur général: Emplacement: coin sud-ouest intersection René-Lévesque / Lucien L'Allier Début de construction: Fin de construction: Site internet: http://www.himtl.com Lien webcam: Autres informations: 250 logements, 220 chambres d'hôtel dans les 10 premiers étages Rumeurs: Aperçu artistique du projet: Maquette: Autres images: Vidéo promotionnelle:

16 étages... ce projet méritait son propre fil!

Nom: Waldorf Astoria Montréal Hauteur en étages: 35 Hauteur en mètres: 120 Coût du projet: 200 000 000,00 $ Promoteur: Investissements Monit Inc. et Hilton Hotels Corporation Architecte: Entrepreneur général: Emplacement: Sherbrooke/Guy Début de construction: Fin de construction: Site internet: Lien webcam: Autres informations: Rumeurs: Aperçu artistique du projet: Dernière version : Ancienne version:

L'Étoile Architectes: Panzini Archiectes Fin de la construction:2007 Utilisation: Hôtel Emplacement: Quartier International, Montréal ? mètres - 22 étages http://letoile.ca/ Description: - C'est sous la banière Embassy Suites Hotels que l'hôtel ouvrira.

Quelques photos du Ritz.

Nom: AC Hotel Hauteur en étages: 34 Hauteur en mètres: Coût du projet: Promoteur: Canvar Architecte: Entrepreneur général: Emplacement: entre les rues Anderson et Jeanne-Mance Début de construction: 2015 Fin de construction: 2017 Site internet: http://www.acmarriottmontreal.com/ Lien webcam: Autres informations: L'immeuble logera un hôtel Mariott AC Rumeurs: Aperçu artistique du projet: Maquette: Autres images: Vidéo promotionnelle:

Discussion portant sur l'ancien Hôtel Laurentien.

http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=7317,79867570&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL COMITE CONSULTATIF D'URBANISME 13 septembre 2018 3001459117 et 3001431020 4.6.39 DEMANDE DE CERTIFICAT D'AUTORISATION DE DEMOLITION ET DEMANDE DE PERMIS DE CONSTRUCTION 639-643,rue Notre-Dame Ouest La demande vise a autoriser Ia demolition du batiment ainsi que Ia construction d'un hotel de 5 etages comprenant 21 chambres et un restaurant au rez-de-chaussee. Le toil, les planchers ainsi que toute Ia structure du batiment existant seront demolis. Les fac;ades avant et arriere seront conservees, mais plus de 40% du volume hors-sol sera demoli, done le projet doit etre traite comme une demolition et une nouvelle construction. II s'agit d'un immeuble de 3 etages hors sol, avec une fac;ade de pierre grise, construit en 1891. Les 2e et 3e etages ainsi que son couronnement ant conserve leur integrite. La vitrine commerciale du rez-de-chaussee ainsi que Ia fac;ade arriere ant ete largement modifiees.

A sampling tour of Vermont and Montreal Miami Herald BY LIZ BALMASEDA This is the trip you take when you can't decide what trip to take. You want country-style serenity, but you also want big-city fabulous. You want glorious lake views and rolling green hills, but you also want cosmopolitan boutiques, downtown bustle and jazz. A tour through the soul-soothing Lake Champlain region of northern Vermont and the stimulating thoroughfares of Montreal is a best-of-both-worlds trip you can enjoy in just five easy days. But here's a word to the overly ambitious traveler who wants to see it all on every journey: Think of this tour as a gourmet sampling, not an all-you-can-eat buffet. COUNTRY: VERMONT'S WEST COAST Our tour began in Burlington, Vt., an easily accessible destination for South Florida travelers, since JetBlue has affordable, frequent flights from Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, with a short layover at JFK airport in New York. For big-city escapists hoping to capture a few days of peace, the gentle signs that you've arrived are noticeable right away. I saw them just moments after my flight landed in Burlington, as I walked along an airport corridor to the rental car parking lot. There they were, perfectly white, wooden rocking chairs. Not generic airport seating, but rocking chairs. The quaintness continued on the 25-mile drive south toward Vergennes, on the shores of Lake Champlain, or Vermont's ''West Coast,'' as they call it here. Along carefree U.S. 7, we passed farms and creameries, vintage New England fa?ades, sloping country roads and even one of Vermont's vintage covered bridges. This road takes you past some of the area's most popular attractions. There's the Vermont Wildflower Farm, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company and the Shelburne Museum. There are plenty of teddy bears to hug, cheeses to taste, hiking trails to explore and folk art to buy along this route, depending on your time and interests. As for us, we were in a hurry to reach Lake Champlain and check into our lakefront hotel, the Basin Harbor Club. It was close to 5 p.m. and we didn't want to miss the daylight views. But as we turned on to Basin Harbor Road, we watched the sky blacken across the sprawling farmlands. Lightning streaked the sky in the distance. The sudden darkness along this solitary road gave me the creeps, but I tried to put up a good front for my travel companion, my 16-year-old niece, Natalie Alatriste. ''We're almost there,'' I reassured her, straining to read the passing road signs. But then, like some kind of joke from the universe, one sign called out to me: ''Sleepy Hollow Lane,'' it said. Natalie and I looked at one another and burst into laughter. I stepped on the gas and sped toward the hotel. We joked about what it might be like -- the Bates Motel, maybe? And when we had to dash into the resort lobby under a thunderstorm and take an old wooden staircase to our room, we wondered what kind of adventure awaited us. Indeed, as I opened the door, I gasped. It wasn't the room that stunned me, for it was ample and nicely appointed in a charming New England style, with a quiet balcony overlooking the leafy landscape. No, what stopped my suburban South Florida heart cold was what wasn't there: There was no TV. No TV? How could I survive Wednesday night without ``Top Chef Miami''? But moments later, we walked outside to find the sun had returned, casting a magical light on the trees, the lovely walking paths, the sturdy collection of cottages and the main attraction: the shimmering lake. We sat on brightly colored Adirondack chairs and gazed at the mountains that inspired their name. The sun shone well past 9 p.m., illuminating the landscape of mountains and lake. It was simply gorgeous. The resort sits on 700 rolling acres on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, the sixth-largest lake in America. The historic resort, which is open from mid-May to mid-October, has been welcoming families for 120 years. It offers its guests a laid-back ambience and activities that include golf, tennis, swimming, boating, water sports and hiking. There's even a museum on the grounds, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, devoted to the lake's history. In early October, this is a prime spot to take in northern Vermont's spectacular foliage. For up-to-date reports on leaf coloration until late October, travelers can call Vermont's 24-hour foliage hot line (for details, see below). About 7 miles from downtown Vergennes, the Basin Harbor Club embraces its remote setting, beckoning visitors to relax and forget big-city stress. That explained our missing TV set: In fact, there are no TVs in any of the resort's 74 cottages, 24 rooms or 14 suites. (I did spy a small television and two computers in a den tucked beside the bar in the main lodge. And there is telephone Internet access in the rooms.) The resort also embraces another tradition: All gentlemen over age 12 must wear a coat and tie after 6 p.m. during July and August. That first night, my niece and I dined at the Red Mill, the more casual of the two places that serve dinner at the Basin Harbor. With its funky red facade, its lively bustle and eclectic menu, the renovated sawmill quickly became our favorite place. We were hooked after our first taste of the house specialty, Basin Harbor Cheddar Ale soup: a creamy, lightly spicy tribute to one of Vermont's great gifts to the world -- cheddar. We paired it with a wonderful plate of crispy calamari tossed with scallions, pepperoncini and hot cherry peppers in a garlicky sauce. And because one can never have enough cheese, we ordered a plate of local cheeses for dessert. Our server kindly wrote down the names of our two favorites: Grafton Young cheddar and Crowley Reserve (both cow milk cheeses). The menu, varied and tempting, kept us coming back throughout our stay. Just check out the menu's description of the Champlain Valley Rabbit Papardelle: ''Braised rabbit, chocolate, espresso, brandy, paprika, raisins and hazelnuts,'' tossed over pasta. You get the idea. For breakfast, however, we preferred the Main Dining Room, an elegant, gourmet restaurant that really dresses up at night. In the morning, guests can get the same quality food and service without having to put on their fancy threads. If the cheese soup kept us coming back to the Red Mill, the French toast kept us coming back to the Dining Room. I should be more specific here: The prime Vermont maple syrup on the French toast kept us coming back. Good Vermont maple syrup, we learned, is not the sticky, overly sweet stuff they serve you at I-Hop. It's a perfectly balanced elixir that never overpowers your palate. More local delicacies awaited us in downtown Vergennes, Vermont's oldest city, established in 1788. The heart of this small, Victorian city is a great place to walk and take in the essence of Vermont. The streets are dotted with cafes and shops, along with a couple of bed-and-breakfasts. At the suggestion of locals, we stopped in at Vergennes' sweetest shop. Daily Chocolate is no regular candy store: It's a chocolate shop par excellence. Tucked below street level on a side street, it would be hard to find if not for the aromatic wafts rising from its kitchen. There, owner Floery Mahoney makes fresh batches of uniquely flavored chocolate each day. We found her behind the counter, arranging truffles and hand-formed chocolate barks. Natalie scooped up a bag of her favorite dark chocolate for the road. I was tempted by the wide selection of flavors, which included far-flung combinations like lemongrass/sake, maple/chipotle/pecan and green tea infused mint. But I resisted -- well, only because Mahoney told me the shop has a Web site, dailychocolate.net, and she gladly takes orders for shipment. TOWN: MONTREAL Fortified with Vermont chocolate, it was time to make a run for the border. Montreal is just 90 miles north of Burlington. The AAA Web site routes travelers west across the lake into New York state, where they can pick up I-87 into Canada. But that route would add at least one hour to our travel time, thanks to the Burlington-Port Kent, N.Y., ferry crossing. (There's also another crossing between Charlotte, Vt., and Essex, N.Y, a 20-minute sail along a particularly lovely part of Lake Champlain. But that crossing is farther to the south.) After conferring with Vermont locals, I decided to skip the ferry and the New York detour altogether and take I-89 north from Burlington, a breezy highway that turns into Canada's Route 133, a slower, but perfectly fine country highway that guides you into Montreal. The best part about it is there was no traffic at the border. We showed Canadian border guards our U.S. passports -- don't leave home without a passport or other valid immigration documents -- and we were on our way. While the landscape remains rural, the French signs remind you that you've entered another country, another culture. An hour from Burlington, and you can stop for French pastry and a cafe au lait -- or more maple syrup, if you wish. But once you've entered Montreal, with its skyscrapers and churning traffic, you're snapped into another reality, a world away from the rural pastures. The city carries the heart-pumping, electric charge of a big-time metropolis. We found our way to Rue Sherbrooke, a vibrant boulevard that anchors some of the city's best hotels. There, we spotted ours, the Omni Mont-Royal, a favorite of business travelers and weekend shoppers. The hotel is just off the main shopping drag, Rue Sainte-Catherine, and the entrances to the network of subterranean shopping malls that makes up Montreal's Underground City. Also within walking distance are some of the city's major museums, including the Musee des Beaux-Arts and the Musee d'Art Contemporain. But we -- meaning Natalie -- had decided this trip was not nearly long enough to squander on museum-hopping. Not when we could be shopping. We dropped off our luggage and headed for the shops. Back in Vermont, Natalie had looked up the locations of her favorite store, H&M, and didn't waste too much time directing me to the nearest one. Unfortunately, this one was not within walking distance. It was at the Rockland mall about 20 minutes north of the hotel. But the drive there gave us the chance to see the busy streets and storefronts of city's immigrant communities, a mix of cultures sharing blocks and buses. That night we met friends, transplants from South Florida, for dinner in the Vieux-Montreal quarter. They gave us a tour of the charming, Old World streets of old town. ''Doesn't this feel like we're in a tiny corner of France?'' one of my friends asked. Indeed. The narrow, cobblestone streets, quaint shops and bistros set off all sorts of French culinary cravings. Lucky thing my friends' favorite restaurant couldn't have been more French. Its name alone speaks to its specialties and no-nonsense nature: the Steak Frites. The restaurant, which anchors a corner of Rue Saint-Paul, is a cozy place where the menu is handwritten on a chalkboard. Of course, none of us needed menus -- we ordered steaks and fries all around, followed by a shared dish of profiteroles. The neighborhood is a great place to stroll at night, or listen to good jazz. After all, this is the city that each year gives us one of the best jazz festivals in the world. A perfect place to indulge in the live jazz sounds of Montreal is directly across from the Steak Frites restaurant. The Modavie is a restaurant, wine bar and jazz club featuring live music nightly. But you must dine there to watch the show. Later, as we toured the city at night, we stopped in at the sleek W Hotel, at 901 Square Victoria, for a Perrier. It was a fitting end to a great evening. The next morning, we breakfasted at Anton & James, on nearby Stanley Street, a chic coffee shop that bills itself as a ''cafeteria urbaine.'' Then we hit the Underground City, walking the malls from one end to another. As we made our way out of the city, we stopped to walk around the Plateau neighborhood, perusing the shops and storefronts along Rue Saint-Denis. I found a great music shop called L'Atelier Grigorian -- http://www.grigorian.com -- with an extensive collection of jazz. A few doors down, we also found a casual spot for lunch at La Brioche Lyonnaise, a pastry shop with outdoor seating. I could have spent hours on Rue Saint-Denis, but I knew we had to head back to Vermont. It was already afternoon, and we had a morning flight. Our drive to Essex Junction, Vt., was easy and relatively quick. We checked into the Inn at Essex, a cute 120-room country hotel that houses the New England Culinary Institute. And we arrived just in time for a spectacular dinner at Butler's, the inn's finest restaurant. There, a multi-course gourmet feast is prepared each night by the culinary students. This inn is perhaps the area's best bargain. For what you might pay at a Holiday Inn Express, you can stay at a charming, well-appointed inn with gourmet touches, spa services and culinary classes. Even the toiletries, sweet-smelling and organic, are yummy. And the place is only 7 miles from the Burlington airport -- there's an airport shuttle, too. The next morning came all too quickly as we packed our bags for our return flight. Outside, in the gardens of the inn, it was a glorious, Vermont morning, the kind that nudges you to stay a little longer. We couldn't, of course. But we did stop at the gift shop for a souvenir: a bottle of Vermont maple syrup.

Downturn Ends Building Boom in New York Charles Blaichman, at an unfinished tower at West 14th Street, is struggling to finance three proposed hotels by the High Line. NYtimes By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY Published: January 07, 2009 Nearly $5 billion in development projects in New York City have been delayed or canceled because of the economic crisis, an extraordinary body blow to an industry that last year provided 130,000 unionized jobs, according to numbers tracked by a local trade group. The setbacks for development — perhaps the single greatest economic force in the city over the last two decades — are likely to mean, in the words of one researcher, that the landscape of New York will be virtually unchanged for two years. “There’s no way to finance a project,” said the researcher, Stephen R. Blank of the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit group. Charles Blaichman is not about to argue with that assessment. Looking south from the eighth floor of a half-finished office tower on 14th Street on a recent day, Mr. Blaichman pointed to buildings he had developed in the meatpacking district. But when he turned north to the blocks along the High Line, once among the most sought-after areas for development, he surveyed a landscape of frustration: the planned sites of three luxury hotels, all stalled by recession. Several indicators show that developers nationwide have also been affected by the tighter lending markets. The growth rate for construction and land development loans shrunk drastically this year — to 0.08 percent through September, compared with 11.3 percent for all of 2007 and 25.7 percent in 2006, according to data tracked by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. And developers who have loans are missing payments. The percentage of loans in default nationwide jumped to 7.3 percent through September 2008, compared with 1 percent in 2007, according to data tracked by Reis Inc., a New York-based real estate research company. New York’s development world is rife with such stories as developers who have been busy for years are killing projects or scrambling to avoid default because of the credit crunch. Mr. Blaichman, who has built two dozen projects in the past 20 years, is struggling to borrow money: $370 million for the three hotels, which include a venture with Jay-Z, the hip-hop mogul. A year ago, it would have seemed a reasonable amount for Mr. Blaichman. Not now. “Even the banks who want to give us money can’t,” he said. The long-term impact is potentially immense, experts said. Construction generated more than $30 billion in economic activity in New York last year, said Louis J. Coletti, the chief executive of the Building Trades Employers’ Association. The $5 billion in canceled or delayed projects tracked by Mr. Coletti’s association include all types of construction: luxury high-rise buildings, office renovations for major banks and new hospital wings. Mr. Coletti’s association, which represents 27 contractor groups, is talking to the trade unions about accepting wage cuts or freezes. So far there is no deal. Not surprisingly, unemployment in the construction industry is soaring: in October, it was up by more than 50 percent from the same period last year, labor statistics show. Experience does not seem to matter. Over the past 15 years, Josh Guberman, 48, developed 28 condo buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan, many of them purchased by well-paid bankers. He is cutting back to one project in 2009. Donald Capoccia, 53, who has built roughly 4,500 condos and moderate-income housing units in all five boroughs, took the day after Thanksgiving off, for the first time in 20 years, because business was so slow. He is shifting his attention to projects like housing for the elderly on Staten Island, which the government seems willing to finance. Some of their better known and even wealthier counterparts are facing the same problems. In August, Deutsche Bank started foreclosure proceedings against William S. Macklowe over his planned project at the former Drake Hotel on Park Avenue. Kent M. Swig, Mr. Macklowe’s brother-in-law, recently shut down the sales office for a condo tower planned for 25 Broad Street after his lender, Lehman Brothers, declared bankruptcy in September. Several commercial and residential brokers said they were spending nearly half their days advising developers who are trying to find new uses for sites they fear will not be profitable. “That rug has been pulled out from under their feet,” said David Johnson, a real estate broker with Eastern Consolidated who was involved with selling the site for the proposed hotel to Mr. Blaichman, Jay-Z and their business partners for $66 million, which included the property and adjoining air rights. Mr. Johnson said that because many banks are not lending, the only option for many developers is to take on debt from less traditional lenders like foreign investors or private equity firms that charge interest rates as high as 20 percent. That doesn’t mean that all construction in New York will grind to a halt immediately. Mr. Guberman is moving forward with one condo tower at 87th Street and Broadway that awaits approval for a loan; he expects it will attract buyers even in a slowing economy. Mr. Capoccia is trying to finish selling units at a Downtown Brooklyn condominium project, and is slowly moving ahead on applying for permits for an East Village project. Mr. Blaichman, 54, is keeping busy with four buildings financed before the slowdown. He has found fashion and advertising firms to rent space in his tower at 450 West 14th Street and buyers for two downtown condo buildings. He recently rented a Lower East Side building to the School of Visual Arts as a dorm. Mr. Blaichman had success in Greenwich Village and the meatpacking district, where he developed the private club SoHo House, the restaurant Spice Market and the Theory store. He had similar hopes for the area along the High Line, where he bought properties last year when they were fetching record prices. An art collector, he considered the area destined for growth because of its many galleries and its proximity to the park being built on elevated railroad tracks that have given the area its name. The park, which extends 1.45 miles from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, is expected to be completed in the spring. Other developers have shown that buyers will pay high prices to be in the area. Condo projects designed by well-known architects like Jean Nouvel and Annabelle Selldorf have been eagerly anticipated. In recent months, buyers have paid $2 million for a two-bedroom unit and $3 million for a three-bedroom at Ms. Selldorf’s project, according to Streeteasy.com, a real estate Web site. “It’s one of the greatest stretches of undeveloped areas,” Mr. Blaichman said. “I still think it’s going to take off.” In August 2007, Mr. Blaichman bought the site and air rights of a former Time Warner Cable warehouse. He thought the neighborhood needed its first full-service five-star hotel, in contrast to the many boutique hotels sprouting up downtown. So with his partners, Jay-Z and Abram and Scott Shnay, he envisioned a hotel with a pool, gym, spa and multiple restaurants under a brand called J Hotels. But since his mortgage brokers started shopping in late summer for roughly $200 million in financing, they have only one serious prospect for a lender. For now, he is seeking an extension on the mortgage — monthly payments are to begin in the coming months — and trying to rent the warehouse. (He currently has no income from the property.) It is perhaps small comfort that his fellow developers are having as many problems getting loans. Shaya Boymelgreen had banks “pull back” recently on financing for a 107-unit rental tower the developer is building at 500 West 23rd Street, according to Sara Mirski, managing director of development for Boymelgreen Developers. The half-finished project looked abandoned on two recent visits, but Ms. Mirski said that construction will continue. Banks have “invited” the developer to reapply for a loan next year and have offered interim bridge loans for up to $30 million. Mr. Blaichman cuts a more mellow figure than many other developers do. He avoids the real estate social scene, tries to turn his cellphone off after 6 p.m. and plays folk guitar in his spare time. For now, Mr. Blaichman seems stoic about his plight. At a diner, he polished off a Swiss-cheese omelet and calmly noted that he had no near-term way to pay off his debts. He exercises several times a week and tells his three children to curb their shopping even as he regularly presses his mortgage bankers for answers. “I sleep pretty well,” Mr. Blaichman said. “There’s nothing you can do in the middle of the night that will help your projects.” But even when the lending market improves — in months, or years — restarting large-scale projects will not be a quick process. A freeze in development, in fact, could continue well after the recession ends. Mr. Blank of the Urban Land Institute said he has taken to giving the following advice to real estate executives: “We told them to take up golf.” Correction: An article on Saturday about the end of the building boom in New York City referred incorrectly to the family relationship between the developers William S. Macklowe, whose planned project at the former Drake Hotel is in foreclosure, and Kent M. Swig, who shut down the sales office for a condominium tower on Broad Street after his lender, Lehman Brothers, declared bankruptcy. Mr. Swig is Mr. Macklowe’s brother-in-law, not his son-in-law.

MARTIN JOLICOEUR . les affaires.com . 17-10-2013 (modifié le 17-10-2013 à 09:40) Un autre hôtel du centre-ville de Montréal, l’Hôtel du Fort, fermera ses portes à la fin du mois pour être transformé en un nouveau complexe de condominiums. GMI Hospitality, gestionnaire de l’hôtel en activité depuis 21 ans, justifie sa décision par des difficultés financières. «Le secteur de l’hôtellerie fait face à des pressions économiques et nous n’avons pas été épargnés», a expliqué, par voie de communiqué, la présidente de GMI, Lori Polacheck. L’entreprise à capital fermé a décidé de convertir l’hôtel montréalais, situé au 1 390 rue du Fort, en un nouveau projet d’habitations en copropriété. Un autre... qui s’ajoutera à la kyrielle d’autres projets déjà promis et en cours de réalisation dans le même quadrilatère de l’ouest du centre-ville. Par la voie de son porte-parole, GMI s’est refusé à toute précision en ce qui a trait au nombre d’unités de condominium prévues, aux montants d’investissement, de même qu’à la catégorie de construction visée. Parle-t-on, par exemple, de condominium pour premiers acheteurs, ou encore de résidence pour millionnaires? «Impossible de vous en dire d’avantage, s’est excusé le porte-parole, Jonathan Goldbloom. Une annonce sera faite à ces propos dans le prochains mois.» ... (lire l'article au complet) [sTREETVIEW]https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hotel+du+Fort,+Fort+Street,+Montreal,+QC,+Canada&hl=en&ll=45.490983,-73.58075&spn=0.006385,0.011716&sll=45.492864,-73.580364&sspn=0.006385,0.011716&oq=hotel+du+For&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=45.491777,-73.581371&panoid=0dUOnm19ssXkAC8X9CU37w&cbp=12,179.82,,0,-17.47[/sTREETVIEW]

Trump Files Suit Against Lenders Developer Seeks to Extend $640 Million Loan on a Chicago Skyscraper Wsj.com By ALEX FRANGOS Tall Trouble: Donald Trump's Chicago skyscraper project, the Trump International Hotel & Tower, during construction in July. Mr. Trump is suing to extend a $640 million senior construction loan on the 92-story Trump International Hotel & Tower from a group of lenders led by Deutsche Bank AG and including a unit of Merrill Lynch & Co., Union Labor Life Insurance Co., iStar Financial Inc., a publicly traded real-estate investment trust, and Highland Funds, a unit of Highland Capital Management LP. The tower, which contains 339 hotel rooms and 486 condominiums, will be the second-tallest building in the U.S. behind Chicago's Sears Tower and is expected to be completed in mid-2009. The hotel, on the lower floors, opened earlier this year. But sales of both the hotel rooms and the condominiums have come in below original estimates and the project's current projected revenue remains short by nearly $100 million needed to pay off the senior lenders. The lawsuit, filed in New York State supreme court in Queens, is a further indication of the dysfunction in the real-estate lending markets as borrowers and lenders struggle to resolve troubled projects. People familiar with the matter say the lender group, which is made up of more than a dozen institutions, was unable to agree on the extension. The suit demands -- among other things -- that an extension provision in the original loan agreement be triggered because of the "unprecedented financial crisis in the credit markets now prevailing, in part due to acts Deutsche Bank itself participated in." This so-called force majeure provision is common in contracts and can be applied to acts of war and natural disasters. Mr. Trump already extended the loan once in May. From the Archives Mr. Trump asked for $3 billion in damages. The suit won't affect construction of the project, according to people familiar who say there is enough money to complete the $90 million work that is left. The suit says Mr. Trump attempted to resolve the impasse by offering to buy the project's unsold hotel units for $97 million. That money would be used to pay down the construction loan, along with the $204 million in proceeds from closed units and the $353 million that is expected from units that close in the next six months. A Deutsche Bank spokesman declined to comment. Mr. Trump has put $77 million of his own equity into the tower, which he would stand to lose in a potential foreclosure. Other than a $40 million guarantee to complete the project, Mr. Trump has no recourse obligations to the project. A Trump spokesman declined to comment. [Trump, Donald] Deutsche Bank originated the construction loan in 2005 and sold off most of it to others, retaining less than $10 million of exposure on that loan. The suit alleges that Deutsche Bank compromised the senior construction loan by selling pieces off to "so many institutions, banks, junk bond firms, and virtually anybody that seemed to come along," that the lending group is unable to come to a consensus on how to deal with the matter. It also alleges Deutsche Bank created a "serious conflict of interest" by taking a separate stake in the project's so-called mezzanine loan that was originated by private-equity firm Fortress Investment Group. The mezzanine loan, which is junior to the senior construction loan, had an original principal of $130 million but will eventually accrue to $360 million. Deutsche Bank purchased roughly one-quarter of the mezzanine loan, according to people familiar with the matter. The suit names the mezzanine lenders as defendants, including Fortress and its affiliates, Newcastle Investment Corp. and Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund, as well as Dune Capital Management and Blackacre Institutional Capital Management, the real-estate arm of Cerberus Capital Management. Fortress didn't respond to a request for comment. The other lenders declined to comment. Unless sales of the condo and hotel units restart despite the worst housing market in generations, and quickly generate $400 million in new sales, it will be difficult for the project to pay off the mezzanine loan, which comes due in May 2009.

Brisbane in Australia is currently having a boom in proposals and approvals for skyscrapers now it seems height limits in the city may be lifted by the powers that be. One of the most recent green-lights will see a two tower project that will house the most expensive apartments in the city. Named the French Quarter Towers the project comes from local developer Devine Limited, it consists of two towers which will be built in two stages, one standing at 54 storeys and the second at 40 storeys. With apartments ranging in price from $2.5 million to a whopping $15 million you might be expecting some spectacular, gimmicky, Dubai inspired skyscraper instead, what Brisbane will be getting is two towers which are rather reserved and elegant. Squared at the bases the towers rise up in a pretty standard boxy way until they get about a third of the way up where they begin to gently curve inwards on one side, the curve deepens before coming back out again creating a subtle sort of S shape at the tops of the towers. The shaping of the tower isn't detracted from by any epic spires or crowns the addition of which could have made the towers look decidedly trashy. The facades are glazed and balconied offering residents fantastic views and somewhere nice to enjoy a glass of wine and the odd sunset or two. Residents at the tower can look forward to unsurpassed luxury as soon as a winner is announced for a international competition to design the interiors of the towers though it can probably be assumed the towers will also be home to a six star luxury hotel that with gymnasiums, spas and restaurants you have to wear a tie in. One thing is for sure though the tower will offer the very latest in "technomenities", a fancy word invented by marketing bods that means the towers will have the latest generation smart home technology, which will include automated systems for lighting and climate, in-home entertainment and electronic concierge services. Despite the French theme, high tech auroma technology spewing out the smell of garlic will not be included, whilst the concierge is likely to be much friendlier to English speakers than a Parisian would be. Construction is hoped to start in 2009 with completion penned in for mid 2012. http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1487

Montreal's restaurants fluent in French BY RAPHAEL SUGARMAN Saturday, December 1st 2007, 4:00 AM Europea's chef, Jerome Ferrer, prepares a fine French meal. New Yorkers looking for the perfect destination to tantalize their palates needn't spend hours traveling overseas to Paris. They should instead make the relatively short jaunt to Montreal and enjoy a culinary tradition that is just as passionate and arguably more exciting than that of France. "The food [in France] is very good and very classic, but here we are more open-minded," says Normand Lapris, executive chef of Toque, a highly rated Montreal restaurant. "When I am cooking, I don't think to myself, 'I can't use this recipe or this spice because it is not French,'" adds Lapris. "If I like curry, I put curry in my food." Fostering classic French cuisine - while remaining open to North American eclecticism - makes Montreal an ideal city for food lovers. More than half the city's 20 top-rated restaurants are classified as French or French-Canadian, and the cuisine - and its Quebecois influences - undeniably inspires the greatest passion in Montreal's kitchens. A very good case can be made that the city's top French restaurants - including Chez L'Epicier, L'Express, Au Pied de Cochon and Toque - offer every bit as delectable and memorable a dining experience as any spot in Paris. Because Montreal is, by nature, a French city, dining in a bistro here offers a much more authentic experience than similar establishments in New York or other North American cities. "When you are dining at L'Express, you feel like you could be in Paris, like you are in another world," says Lesley Chesterman, restaurant critic for the Montreal Gazette. Much like France, the quality of restaurants in Montreal is driven by the superb food markets. At the Atwater Market in the Saint-Henri district, and at the Jean-Talon Market adjacent to Little Italy, locals and tourists alike marvel at the bounty of luscious, home-grown products. At Jean-Talon, make sure to visit Le Marche Des Saveurs du Québec (The Market Flavors of Quebec), a pair of shops that feature a staggering 7,000 delicacies produced in the province. "The small producers make all the difference here in Quebec," says Carl Witchel, a local food historian. "The difference between Montreal and New York is that here you can go into a really inexpensive bistro with 20 or 25 seats and have something really remarkable." IF YOU GO ... Where to stay: Le Saint-Sulpice: Cozy boutique hotel in the heart of Old Montreal, a block from Notre Dame. (877)-SULPICE. Hotel Le Germain: A gem in the city's downtown business district. (514) 849-2050. Where to eat: Nuances: Jean-Pierre Curtat's wonderful French fare, irreproachable service and ethereal sunsets. (514) 392-2708. Club Chasse Et Péche: You have to love a place that lists "Six Oysters with Charisma" on the menu. (514) 861-1112. Europea: The Lobster Cream Cappuccino with truffle oil is just one of chef Jerome Ferrer's inventive offerings. (514) 398-9229. Beaver Club: Located in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, this opulent stalwart has been serving classic French cuisine for decades. (514) 861-3511.

Relance du Mont Orford: un hôtel et des lofts verts Publié le 09 mai 2011 à 05h00 | Mis à jour le 09 mai 2011 à 08h59 * Hélène Baril La Presse (Montréal) Des lofts aux murs de verre, complètement autonomes en énergie, équipés de lits et de baignoires sur rails qui peuvent sortir dehors par beau temps. De drôles d'habitations apparaîtront au pied du mont Orford. «Et il y aura des vélos qui produiront de l'électricité pour avoir accès à l'internet», ajoute Alain Chagnon, président du Vertendre, entreprise immobilière qui participe à une autre tentative de relance du mont Orford. Le Vertendre et Gestion Soroma, la société qui gère le centre de ski et le club de golf au nom du gouvernement québécois, sont devenus récemment propriétaires de 20% de ces deux actifs. L'autre actionnaire est la MRC de Memphrémagog, qui a acquis pour 1$ une part de 80% de la nouvelle société d'économie mixte créée pour tenter de donner un nouveau souffle à cette station touristique qui a connu plus que sa part de déboires depuis sa création, il y a 70 ans. C'est une occasion qu'attend depuis très longtemps Alain Chagnon, dont la famille a déjà réalisé plusieurs projets immobiliers dans la région immédiate du mont Orford. Depuis 2004, les Chagnon ont réuni 1000 acres de terrains au pied de la montagne, un secteur qu'ils ont commencé à aménager sous le nom de Vertendre. En s'associant avec la MRC de Memphrémagog, ils ont obtenu ce qui leur manquait pour continuer ce lotissement: un lien qui reliera leur secteur au domaine skiable, sur le versant ouest de la montagne. Ce lien fera débloquer des investissements d'une dizaine de millions de dollars dans de nouvelles activités de plein air, mais surtout dans l'immobilier, a fait savoir M. Chagnon lors d'un entretien avec La Presse Affaires. «On pense à 900 unités d'habitation au total», dit Alain Chagnon. En plus des 200 lofts accrochés à la montagne, il y aura des maisons individuelles et un hôtel de 200 chambres, le tout construit dans le respect de la nature et de l'environnement. Cet hôtel pourrait être géré par le Club Med. «Le Club Med a toujours un intérêt dans le projet», affirme le promoteur. L'autre intéressé par le projet d'hôtel est l'artiste Heinz Julen, qui a conçu l'hôtel Backstage de Zermatt, en Suisse. L'hôtelier qui s'associera au Vertendre ne misera ni sur les bars ni sur les discothèques pour attirer des clients, assure Alain Chagnon. «Plutôt sur les cerfs et les porcs-épics», dit-il. Qui paiera? La MRC de Memphrémagog a retenu une seule des trois propositions qui lui ont été faites pour relancer le mont Orford, celles du Vertendre et de Gestion Soroma. Les deux autres groupes intéressés ont été disqualifiés parce qu'ils n'ont pas réussi à réunir 1,5 million en garantie. Les deux offres rejetées sont celles de la Coopérative de solidarité du Mont-Orford, regroupement local, et de Camp Fortune, entreprise qui exploite une station de plein air dans l'Outaouais. Contre leur 1,5 million, Vertendre et Gestion Soroma ont obtenu 20% d'une entreprise dont les actifs sont estimés à 7,5 millions et dont la MRC est l'actionnaire majoritaire. C'est donc à la MRC que revient la responsabilité de préserver l'intégrité du territoire du parc national du Mont-Orford. Il n'y aura ni constructions, ni nouvelles pistes de ski, ni rien d'autre sur le territoire du parc, qui est protégé, affirme Guy Joron, directeur général de MRC. Rien, à part les «quelques pylônes» nécessaires au lien vers le Vertendre, précise-t-il. Le coût des projets d'aménagement de la station touristique sera assumé par la société d'économie mixte qui, en tant que propriétaire d'actifs estimés à 7,5 millions et sans aucune dette, pourra emprunter les fonds nécessaires. Alain Chagnon ajoute que la société pourra profiter des programmes gouvernementaux d'aide à l'investissement. Il ne prévoit pas de conflit entre les intérêts collectifs de la MRC et les intérêts privés du Vertendre et de Gestion Soroma. «Si on y trouve notre compte, tout le monde y trouvera son compte», espère-t-il. Parce qu'il vit et travaille dans la région et que ses enfants vont à l'école du coin, Alain Chagnon se dit prêt à prendre plus de risques qu'un promoteur de l'extérieur. «Si on perd de l'argent pendant deux ans, je ne vais pas m'en aller ailleurs», assure-t-il. Après la faillite et les disputes, les projets de vente et de privatisation qui n'ont pas abouti, le gouvernement du Québec a finalement réussi à se débarrasser du problème du mont Orford. Une ère nouvelle commencera le 1er juin, date à laquelle la société d'économie mixte commencera officiellement ses activités.

Montreal hotels offer escape from tourists Graeme Hamilton, National Post MONTREAL - At street level, there is an old-world charm to parts of this city, where horse-drawn caleches roll over cobblestone streets, passing buildings dating from the French regime. But then again, the smell of horse urine can get a little pungent on a steaming-hot day, the cobblestones can do a number on your ankle if you're not careful, and for every building of historic interest there's another housing a tacky souvenir shop. Montreal's year-round inhabitants have discovered a new escape route from the tourist-clogged streets, which oddly enough begins in a hotel lobby. A number of city hotels have sprouted rooftop terrasses where the (admittedly steep) price of a beer is also said to buy you a smashing view, a chance to mix with the in crowd and in one case, a dip in the pool if the spirit moves you. The trend has been fuelled by a proliferation of boutique hotels in Old Montreal, which have helped revive a neighbourhood that had been sliding. The best of a bunch sampled recently was atop the Hotel Nelligan, just up from the waterfront on St. Paul Street West. In one direction, the view was of the St. Lawrence River, Ile Notre-Dame and Moshe Safdie's Habitat '67 apartment complex, gleaming as it caught the early-evening sun; in the other, Notre-Dame basilica loomed. Dormer windows on adjacent buildings looked very Parisian, although the music -- an eclectic mix of oldies ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Smokey Robinson -- screamed 1970s rec room. The terrasse, called Sky, does not exactly qualify as a best-kept secret. The rooftop was packed, and the area reserved for dining had an hour-long wait for a table. An even larger crowd awaited atop the Hotel Place d'Armes on the Aix terrasse. After wandering past hotel rooms to find the door leading to the roof, we were greeted by a bouncer recording each arrival and departure with a handheld counter. Asked how many people there were, he replied that the information was "confidential." A waiter said we had arrived on the patio's busiest night of the week, a Thursday. It was largely an after-work crowd looking to start the weekend early; a hotel guest looking for a relaxing cocktail in the sun would have been surprised to find a scene fit for Crescent Street, the city's famous nightclub strip. "It's happy hour," the waiter advised us, which seemed hard to believe after having just paid $7.50 for a bottle of beer. He clarified that the prices are unchanged during this particular bar's happy hour. It's just that people are happy. The view was not the best, hurt by the fact Montreal planners over the years have allowed an architectural jewel such as the basilica to be dwarfed by modern monstrosities such as the National Bank tower on Place d'Armes and the courthouse a block to the east. For a view, the hands-down winner was Hotel de la Montagne, in the city's downtown -- and not just because its rooftop pool is surrounded by bikini-clad sunbathers. On a recent evening, looking southeast we could see clear to the Eastern Townships. In the foreground was Montreal's skyline and behind us Mount Royal. The hotel has no pretense of "boutique" trendiness, from the ebony elephants and crocodile statues in the lobby to the party atmosphere on the rooftop. "People say that it is dated, so what, so is your girlfriend," a young Ohio man who recently stayed at the hotel wrote on tripadvisor.com last month. "The pool on the roof is as cool as it gets. We arrived on Friday afternoon, and the roof looked like a scene from spring break in Cancun." Our waitress advised us that the small pool is open to all customers whether they are staying at the hotel or not, "as long as you have alcohol." Not too much, she hastened to add, relating the story of a drunken man who had a contest with friends to see who could stay underwater the longest. He never came up, she said.