In recent years, District Central has successfully attracted a wide range of businesses. Its many strengths even earned it the designation of "Metropolitan Innovation Zone" in 2021. Driven by the rollout of a Signature Urban Planning Intervention Plan, the district has also enjoyed unprecedented public visibility. However, certain recent interventions—carried out without genuine consultation with local stakeholders—came as a rude awakening. These events serve as a stark reminder of the complexity inherent in such an ambitious transformation process.

Martine Peyton, urban planner and president of ELEMENTS Planification urbaine, is categorical: maintaining a healthy ecosystem like District Central—where urban manufacturing, retail, and residential pockets coexist—is a delicate balancing act. "To succeed," she says, "cohabitation requires a deep understanding of everyone's needs and realities. Urban planning projects are no exception; ignoring this rule carries significant consequences."

From rising operational and production costs to a decreased sense of general safety and accessibility hurdles, the rollout of a bike path in a high-density industrial sector demonstrated the immediate ripple effects of poorly integrated projects.

For Alexandre Watson, Head of Land Entitlement Services at Landerz, the long-term impact on the area’s attractiveness could be even more severe. "When a company chooses a location, they aren’t just choosing a building; they are choosing a specific socioeconomic fabric. When that environment shifts, it can lead them to second-guess their decision or even leave."

"Where there are departures, there are vacancies and a gradual devaluation of property," Watson adds. "It’s a dangerous spiral for any real estate owner. The negative impact on land value doesn't happen overnight, but without intervention, it becomes highly likely over a 5-to-10-year horizon. And it isn’t limited to commercial spaces. Fewer businesses mean fewer workers. Fewer workers mean fewer shops—and eventually, less housing."