Terrains autour du Centre Bell

[Hercule]

La salle sera pleine croyez-moi...

[mtlurb]

croyez moi, pas seulement des groupes de musique, mais des gros "partys" aussi!!

 

Je connais pas mal tous les promoteurs en ville et pour eux avoir une bonne place pour faire un party est difficile!!

[Ornello Mastrocola]

Do you we know who the architect(s) for this is/are? Do we have an outline of what this place might look like...or is it still too early?

[Habsfan]

Do you we know who the architect(s) for this is/are? Do we have an outline of what this place might look like...or is it still too early?

 

it's still too early!

[PLT]

I think a new contemporary concert venue in Montreal would be great.

 

 

A new venue The Nokia Theatre http://www.nokiatheatrelalive.com/ opened in L.A. recently. I think it is a great example of what we could expect in Montreal.

 

 

The Nokia Theatre is a 7100 seat theatre. So a little bigger then the one we are talking about for Montreal.

 

 

These large theatres are a much nicer way to see a concert then at the top of a large arena.

 

 

The Bell Centre is great for large concerts. But it can be too big for smaller concerts, being one of the biggest arenas in the world, perhaps only second to the SCC Peterburgsky arena in St Petersburg Russia shown above.

 

The Nokia Theatre can also be downsized by means of large curtains that close off the balcony areas.

 

 

I would love to see a facility like this in Montreal.

[internationalx]

I live in LA and the Nokia Theater, while a great venue, looks like a big box retail store from the outside; as if no one put any thought or effort into the exterior design. I'd prefer to see a concert venue integrated into a mixed use project.

[PLT]

I like the idea of a mixed use project that involves a large concert venue. I do agree that the exterior architecture of the Nokia Theatre isn't the nicest. But I do think that the interior is a nice space.

[internationalx]

I'm always surprised that mixed use hasn't caught on more in Montreal... this is the perfect place for both a concert venue like Nokia AND a residential or hotel component as the spot straddles the business district with the residential neighborhood.

[GDS]

 

UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT SITE IN DOWNTOWN MONTREAL UP FOR SALE

 

Parking lot fronting Bell Centre in Montreal launches new wave of

development following the lead of successful projects surrounding other

major league sports venues in Toronto and Vancouver.

 

The marketing launch for the prestigious development site totaling 31,822 square

feet facing the Bell Centre between Drummond Street and de la Montagne Street

marks an important trend in Montréal’s condominium development market. Since

the initial condo boom from 2003-2006, new condominium towers have typically

been restrained in terms of building height, with the tallest condo project currently

under construction being Altoria at 35 stories. The development site now being

marketed for sale, offers a maximum potential height of 210 meters or 50 stories

and unobstructed views to the Lachine Canal and St-Lawrence River. A new

project on this site could easily become one of Montréal’s premier developments,

with unparalleled views.

Cadillac Fairview. plans to build a similar, large density project on the Centennial

Plaza of the Bell Centre with two towers in excess of 40 stories. This

development, along with successful, comparable projects surrounding the Air

Canada Center in downtown Toronto, have emboldened the Pension Fund to

take an assertive position in Montreal. Brett Miller, Executive Vice President and

Regional Managing Director, Eastern Canada of CB Richard Ellis noted that, “the

emergence of lifestyle residential projects focused around major entertainment

complexes such as the GM Place in Vancouver or ACC in Toronto demonstrates

that these enhanced projects are achievable and highly profitable. The aboveaverage

size of these projects is easily matched by the heightened allure of the

local entertainment factor, which only accelerates in a symbiotic manner with

successive high-density mixed-use developments. There is no reason why

Montreal will not replicate the success of its Canadian metropolitan

counterparts.”

This offering marks the continuation of large-scale downtown development sites

being brought to market. Brian Ker, co-leader of the National Investment Team –

Montreal and member of the sales team for this development site, notes that

“downtown parking lots and sites with high-density zoning are in the midst of a

massive change of ownership, whereby passive owners are seeking to realize

gains and transferring assets to well-capitalized investors with the technical

ability and the financial capability to undertake significant development projects

with total project values in excess of $100 million. To date in 2011, over $135

million in high-density land has traded on the Island of Montreal, which is on pace

to eclipse last year’s record total of $152 million, and will ensure a steady flow of

marquee development projects over the next five years.”

Miller added that “despite the fact that most development activity in Montreal is

spearheaded by local firms, we anticipate that there will be strong appetite from

foreign investors for such a trophy development opportunity. If someone wanted

to build a Trump Tower, Four Seasons, or Shangri-La in Montreal, this is one of

the few sites that could offer the prestige and views to accommodate their strict

branding criteria.”

[GDS]

Montreal Parking Lot Sale Rides On Coat Tails of Bell Centre Development

Ann White

Property Biz Canada

 

A Montreal development site that permits a 50-story condo, hotel, office or mixed-use building located across the street from the Bell Centre on Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal went on sale this week.

 

The Bell Centre, home to the Montreal Canadiens, is the busiest hockey arena in Canada. Immediately adjacent to the arena is Windsor Station that houses the Lucien-L'Allier Metro Station. It is across the street from the 1250 René-Lévesque skyscraper, linked to the Bonaventure metro station and connected to the 32-kilometer underground pathway RESO considered to be the longest in the World.

 

The listing of this property follows on the coat tails of news from April 2011 that Cadillac Fairview intends to build two condo towers (700 units – 40-story buildings) and an office tower (27 floors) above the Bell Centre and adjacent Windsor Station. The first of the Cadillac Fairview buildings are to be completed in 2014.

 

The listed property is being marketed as ‘an exceptional opportunity’ for condo developers from Toronto and Vancouver who want to enter the fledgling Montreal market. In comparison to Canada’s other two major cities condominiums are just gaining traction in Montreal. International purchasers who recognize the unique features of the location for mixed-use projects are also prospective buyers.

 

“The condo market is less mature in Montreal. It started about ten years ago and there is still no density in the suburbs” said Brett Miller who along with Brian Kerr at CBRE is marketing the property for a local family.

 

“The site offers access to Montreal’s vibrant nightlife, abundant retail locations and a commute free alternative for empty nesters,” said Miller.

 

A downtown condo in Montreal is also seen as a way of avoiding what is widely expected to be unprecedented traffic gridlock due to infrastructure construction projects. A major interchange and two bridges, all of which are major access routes to the downtown, are slated for a rebuild over the next five to ten years.

 

Compared to Toronto and Calgary where building heights are virtually unrestricted in sections of those cities, no building in downtown Montreal can exceed the height of Mount Royal, 233 metres (764 ft.) above mean sea level. As the land elevation rises near the mountain the height of buildings is reduced plus further regulation limits heights to less than 120 meters in many parts of the City.

 

Buildings constructed in the lowest parts of the downtown, such as the area around the Bell Centre and near Tour de la Bourse, can achieve the maximum building heights at around 210 metres.

 

A condo built on the 31,800 square foot parking lot that is for sale, at 50-story building and 210 meters, would have a dramatic view of the Lachine canal as well as being higher than the tallest proposed condo, Altoria at 35 stories, and the 4 tallest Montreal office buildings:

 

Le 1000 rue de la Gauchetière – 205 m. – 51 stories

Le 1250 Boulevard Rene-Levesque – 199 m. - 47 stories

Tour de la Bourse - 190 m. - 47 stories

La Tour de CIBC – 187 m. - 45 stories

 

Referring to the 75-story Aura condo under construction in Toronto at the corner of College St. and Gerrard St. Miller said, “We won’t see those kinds of heights in Montreal as the City is committed to maintaining the signature of the mountain on the downtown core. The municipality is pursuing densification by encouraging construction on parking lots.”

 

As the condo market grows in Montreal how will height restrictions and demand for sites impact the cost of land? Will tall building constructions gain a foothold in Montreal suburbs as a way of satisfying urban intensification policies and a burgeoning interest in condo ownership?