MONTRÉAL, August 13, 2024 – The Société de développement commercial (SDC) District Central is proud to announce an investment of $1 million over 3 years to implement its District Central Signature Action Plan. This investment, from the Fonds Signature Métropole (FSM), is aimed at strengthening the city’s distinctive identity so that it can continue to play a leading role in the Quebec economy.

In 2023, the District Central has adopted an action plan to serve as a lever for its urban redevelopment, from an industrial sector to a business district. This plan is an opportunity to express its identity through the area’s built environment.

“The Signature Action Plan takes into account the reflections of the District Central community and expresses this link between allies, residents and workers in order to create a living environment,” says Hélène Veilleux, General Manager of the SDC District Central. “It serves as a foundation and a guideline for future actions, and responds concretely to the SDC’s business objectives and the needs of the community we represent.”

The funding will be used to achieve the objectives of sustainable development and economic resilience through the deployment of three types of intervention: landscaping such as fields, urban with the addition of furniture and signage such as lighting, urban art or road markings. The nature of the proposed signature actions not only consolidates the neighbourhood’s identity, but also has a positive impact on the area’s human, environmental and economic health:

• Biodiversity and environment : Increase biodiversity, water retention and the biophilic potential of the district; reduce heat islands; reconnect economic activities with nature.
• Economy and innovation : Promote the expertise of local businesses; present the district as resilient; promote the circular economy; promote innovations in resilient and forward-looking urban development.
• Community and well-being: Increase ownership of the district by and for its users and residents; create connectivity between the various sites; improve human and environmental health; increase urban comfort and the feeling of safety; increase social equity.

“This exceptional project, launched by the SDC District Central, will create a strong and distinctive image for the Ahuntsic-Cartierville sector. Our objective with the Fonds Signature Métropole is to act as a spark plug for projects like this one, which will leave an important legacy for Montreal. .”

Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister for the Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister responsible for Greater Montreal and the Montreal Region.

Marc-André Carignan, urban development expert, joins the project

The SDC District Central is proud to announce the arrival of Marc-André Carignan as Project Manager – Signature Territory Planning, to oversee this project and ensure its successful implementation over the next three years.

Marc-André, who holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from McGill University, is a columnist specializing in urban development who has worked in the Quebec media landscape. His expertise has been recognised by the Association des Architectes Paysagistes du Québec, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and the Ordre des Architectes du Québec. He has also worked as a planning consultant for the Partenariat du Quartier des Spectacles in Montreal.

The arrival of Marc-André and his expertise consolidates the roll-out of the project, which is made possible by key partners in investment, implementation and support from both the private and public sectors.

Contributing to the city’s identity

The nature of the proposed signature interventions celebrates and highlights the historic character of the metropolis. For example, the development of street furniture and signage is inspired by the activities of the textile industry in the District Central, and is imbued with the shape of the manufacturing machines and the materiality of the fabric. It is important to remember that the area was long covered in fields and that, thanks to landscape interventions and urban agriculture, this heritage left behind is coming back to life, notably with La Prairie Louvain, an excellent example of the projects that will be carried out with the FSM.

The appropriation of spaces created by the community encourages people to come together, to create attractive places, to make them coexist, all while promoting social cohesion. The creation of routes to connect the various signature sites also encourages the development of the mixed-use character of the metropolis and active mobility in the neighbourhood to connect the District Central to other territories.

About the SDC District Central

The Société de développement commercial (SDC) District Central is the catalyst and the voice of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville business world. It represents the combined forces of 2,100 business leaders united to develop a sector with outstanding economic, urban and human potential. Its mission is clear: to breathe new life into this legendary neighbourhood, make it shine on a broader stage and propel it to the very top of Montreal’s economic landscape.  Covering an area of 3km2, the District Central is the 4th largest employment centre in Montreal, with 25,000 workers grouped around three business hubs: design, urban manufacturing and technology.

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INFORMATION

Web site – SDC District Central

Plan d’interventions Signature du District Central

Trousse média

MEDIA CONTACT

Maude Ouellette Archambault

[email protected]

450 602-8620