Highrise 6-tower housing project could replace old Montreal Children's Hospital

The site of the former Montreal Children's Hospital may be razed to make way for residential and commercial towers, according to information gathered by CBC's French-language service, Radio-Canada.

The building, sold by the MUHC last Thursday to a real estate developer, has been sitting empty since the hospital moved to the Glen site about a year and a half ago.

The project would include six towers, some as high as 20 storeys, a park and community centre. Condos would make up the bulk of the residential units, but there are also plans for social housing and a hotel.

Demolition work is being planned. However, the developer, Luc Poirier, refused to give an interview to Radio-Canada.

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At a Ville-Marie borough council meeting in October, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said a project for the downtown site is a priority for his administration.

"There are critical needs in terms of social housing, affordable housing, and there is a problem in terms of services," he said, adding that the city wants a project "where young families can flourish with adequate space."

Steve Shanahan, the city councillor for the area around the former Children's Hospital, said he believes some of the site should be left standing, such as the building on the corner of Atwater and Ren-Lvesque Boulevard, but he would not oppose the rest being demolished.

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"I don't think converting an old hospital into condominiums or low-cost apartments is ideal," said Shanahan.

"I do not want to force people for the next two centuries to live in the old halls of the hospital. It makes no sense."

If the project goes forward, it could be submitted to Montreal's office of public consultation early next year.