SHDM reaches an agreement with PwC, which was appointed by the Court to liquidate the assets of Construction Frank Catania & Associés inc. et al.

The Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) reached a comprehensive agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers inc. (PwC), a firm appointed by the Superior Court for the liquidation of Construction F. Catania and related companies. This agreement-in-principle puts an end to all civil proceedings between the parties with respect to the Faubourg Contrecoeur development and was submitted to the Superior Court today. The agreement, whose parameters were approved by the Executive Committee of the Ville de Montréal at its meeting of May 6, provides for a settlement of nearly 7 million dollars in compensations and land to the SHDM. It also facilitates the settlement of a portion of the claim of the Ville de Montréal with respect to infrastructures, including the completion of infrastructure works valued at about 4 million dollars.

Johanne Goulet, SHDM’s Executive Director since 2012, was pleased: « This is great news! With this agreement, the SHDM will take full control of its housing projects in the Faubourg Contrecoeur and puts an end to all contracts that was legally binding the corporation to Construction F. Catania. Furthermore, this agreement will also end all disputes that slowed down the development of the site in addition to enabling full recovery of the sums advanced for its development. » She also made the following statement: « The real winners in this agreement are the residents of Faubourg Contrecoeur who will no longer fear that the development of the project will be hampered by litigations concerning Construction F. Catania. » The SHDM will therefore get land and financial compensation that will allow it to act and contribute to the finalization of the Contrecoeur residential project according to its initial development plan.
The SHDM is conscious of the current residents’ impatience to see their living environment completed, which is why it intends to launch the next phase of Accès Condos this fall. The corporation has also expressed its satisfaction of having obtained commitments for the construction of a food market and a seniors’ residence in the foreseeable future. Another gain obtained as part of the agreement is that part of the land bordering the Carlos-Alcantara park will be developed to accommodate a community project such as a school, a childcare center (CPE) or a sports facility, thus responding to the needs of the community.

It should be noted however that the criminal prosecution for fraud against the managers of Construction F. Catania are still ongoing, and that the civil agreement will have no impact on the course of events in this regard. It should also be remembered that it was the SHDM that initially filed suit in this matter and that it has cooperated in the investigation.

Click here for the complete press release (in French).

A meeting will be organized in a few weeks by the borough of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve to answer questions and concerns of Faubourg Contrecoeur residents.

 

The Ville de Montréal formally approves SHDM’s project which will host the NFB’s headquarters in 2017

(Please see album below)

Announced last fall, the construction of the Îlot Balmoral entered a new phase as the Ville de Montréal’s Executive Committee officially ratified its agreement with the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) and the conditions of the project’s development. Putting the finishing touch to the Place des Festivals with a flagship building, the Îlot Balmoral will offer to the National Film Board (NFB) a prestigious address in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles and a custom designed space for its team and its creators.

Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal, underlined: « The Îlot Balmoral embodies the spirit of Montréal as a metropolis of culture and modernity, and is one of the major projects with which we want to mark our city’s 375th anniversary. The project fits perfectly into the Quartier des spectacles by completing the place des Festivals with a strong architectural concept and by becoming the new home address of the NFB, a jewel of our cinematography. In carrying out this project, the SHDM is pursuing its mission of revitalizing Montréal’s territory and supporting cultural endeavours. »

Johanne Goulet, SHDM’s Managing Director, added: « This ratification is another step towards realizing a project that is ambitious in terms of architectural design, sustainable development and in terms of its cultural mission – with over 25% of its space designed to house the NFB. As the project’s developer, the SHDM is proud to put forward its expertise in responsible property investment for the realization of such innovative and ambitious projects in Montréal. »

The Îlot Balmoral will be built on land owned by the SHDM, next to Place des festivals in the Quartier des spectacles, and bounded by De Maisonneuve Boulevard and De Bleury, Mayor and Balmoral streets. The building will have 13 storeys and will host on its first four levels the NFB’s headquarters and studios in an area of approximately 100,000 ft2. The SHDM is planning to obtain a Gold Level LEED NC 2009 accreditation for this project.

Developed by the Provencher Roy firm, which has received the 2015 Architectural Firm Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the architectural concept provides for the four facades to be constructed as « curtain walls » of glass overlooking the Place des Festivals, Mount Royal and downtown. Composed of a basilaire and a tower, the building will have a lobby crossing from De Bleury Street to the place des Festivals.

Sketches of the architectural concept are available in high resolution upon request.

About the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM)
SHDM contributes to the economic, social and cultural development of Montréal’s territory by developing residential, institutional, industrial, commercial and cultural real estate assets. It is a key partner of the Ville de Montréal in the implementation of its policies and the achievement of its objectives.

Today, the SHDM published, on the Government of Québec online call for tenders system (SEAO), a new call for proposals for projects seeking an Accès Condos accreditation.

Developers and interested contractors are invited to attend an information session on March 11 and to submit their proposals by April 14.

To consult the terms and conditions, visit the www.seao.ca website.

At the invitation of the SHDM and the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, hundreds of people bystanders, residents and stakeholders in the economic, cultural and social life of the Chabanel district, gathered around La Fabrique 125 to enjoy a beautiful winter evening and experience the thrill of an ephemeral artistic creation combining sound and lights. Using as a backdrop this former factory in the fashion district, which was revamped by Huma Design + Architecture, passersby became creators in this interactive show by playing on a heated keyboard whose notes were guiding light beams. Young and old could thus unleash their creativity while enjoying a hot chocolate and winter dishes prepared by the street food truck La Boîte à fromages.

Taking advantage of the extraordinary canvas offered by the La Fabrique 125 building, the Atomic3 firm had designed an interactive light installation to highlight the ingenious combination of industrial heritage and contemporary design that characterizes it so well. The musician, Alexandre Racine, superbly entertained the crowd with a most appropriate repertoire of classical, pop and jazz pieces.

To view the event’s pictures, visit https://www.facebook.com/lafabrique125

Regarding La Fabrique 125

Built in a former industrial building in the fashion district, the beautiful New York-inspired lofts of La Fabrique 125 now welcome a whole new generation of young professionals and entrepreneurs who help boost a neighborhood already bubbling with activity.
Developed by Groupe Dayan and designed especially by the firm Humà Design + architecture, the La Fabrique 125 building has won several awards for its bold design including a special award in the « signage and branding  » category as part of the Grands prix du design 2013 for its interior and exterior graphic concept, an award of excellence in the category « environmental typography » in the Communication Arts Competition 2014 and an honorable mention from ASIA Pacific interior Design Awards, at the presentation of the 2015 Grand Prix du design awards . La Fabrique 125 also has its Accès Condos accreditation.

 

Photo credit: Sylvie Trépanier

The industrial heritage and creativity of the Chabanel district will be highlighted at this dramatic sound and light event held in connection with the Montréal en lumière festival on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, from 6 to 9 p.m. at La Fabrique 125 (125, Chabanel, corner Esplanade).

Designed by the ATOMIC3 firm, an interactive light setup, that includes film projections moving to the sound of music, will be featured to highlight the architectural and industrial heritage of this vibrant neighbourhood.

Open to all neighbourhood residents, as well curious bystanders, the activity will be enhanced by the presence of the street food truck « La boîte à fromages », which will offer a winter menu and hot chocolate.

The event is organized by the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) and the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, in partnership with the Groupe Dayan and Humà Design respectively developers and architects (responsible for the artistic signature) of the project La Fabrique 125, and with the collaboration of urban designers ATOMIC3.

On January 15, the SHDM had the pleasure of hosting a delegation of scholarship recipients from the Daniel Rose Fellowship of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) who were visiting Montreal as part of a study tour. As a key contributor to the search for housing solutions in Montréal, the SHDM was naturally targeted by ULI to help the delegation’s members explore the different innovative approaches that are put forward in the Montréal area.

The ULI is an educational non-profit organization specializing in urban planning, and was founded in 1936. It is supported by its approximately 33,000 members worldwide who are working in the fields of real estate and urban development. In short, the ULI encourages and supports research and development of best policies and practices in land use and offers its expertise and know-how to leaders and municipal authorities responsible for urban planning. As part of the Rose Fellowship program, the organization annually invites representatives of major US cities to participate in a study tour to gather, from other large cities, viable and relevant improvement ideas in the fields of urban planning and real estate development.

Coming from four different US cities, i.e. Boston, Omaha, Pittsburgh and Seattle, and accompanied by some members of ULI, scholarship holders thus took advantage of their stay in Montréal to meet with the Executive Director of the SHDM, Ms. Johanne Goulet, and some members of her team to learn more about SHDM’s activities, and in particular about the Accès Condos program. The team was able to visit three accredited Accès Condos projects including Cité l’Acadie, a mixed project that integrates social housing and condominium units.

Notwithstanding the different political and cultural contexts of their home cities, the twelve members of the delegation were unanimous in their praise of the Accès Condos program as a tool to foster access to home ownership and urban revitalization. The design quality and the affordability of the projects, including the three+ bedroom units for families, delighted in particular the participants from Boston where affordable home ownership and the need to revitalize old industrial sectors remain significant challenges.