The Place Versailles shopping centre in Montreal will be demolished as a $2.2-billion redevelopment project gives rise to more than 5,200 housing units.

After the 61-year-old retail centre in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough is torn down, the project will bring condominiums, rental housing, social housing, family housing, and residences for seniors. Three parks with a total area of 15,800 square meters situated the heart of the residential sector will strengthen the ecological resilience of the site—a key focus. Plans entail a biodiversity corridor along Highway 25, the greening of common spaces and rooftops and the installation of permeable surfaces and stormwater retention systems on the site, in parks, streets, and private properties.

The plan also reserves land for a primary school, a public square with a multi-use park pavilion and play areas, and a commercial hub with offices, shops and a hotel.

The owners of Place Versailles are working closely with municipal authorities to ensure a harmonious integration into the urban fabric with the creation of bicycle paths, local streets, shared lanes, and private roads to improve the connectivity and accessibility of the 17-hectare site.

The project is part of a sustainable development vision, inspired by the Transit Oriented Development concept, and seeks to maximize the proximity of the Radisson metro station.