TMR mega mall faces mounting opposition

Opposition is growing to a $1.6-billionmega mall in Town of Mount Royal.

The planned 280,000-square-metre shopping centre would be built near where the DecarieExpressway meets Highway 40.

The Town of MountRoyal supports the project, which would include stores, restaurants, movietheatres and a concert hall. TMR councilhas already passed several zoning by-laws to help pave the way for building to begin later this year.

• Newmegamallplanned forTMR

But Projet Montral leader Luc Ferrandez saidhe will do everythingin his power to make sure the project never goes ahead.

Ferrandez said the island already has too many restaurants, stores and theatres.

He said the new mall would take business away from commercial streetssuch as St-Laurent Boulevard, Mont-Royal Avenue, and St-Hubert Street.

Ferrandez said it's not clear if the City of Montreal has the power toblock the project, buthe said he'll try to make his case toTMR'smayor, the people who live thereand the developer.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and Russell Copeman, the mayor of the borough ofCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce
have both expressed reservations about theproject.

Coderresaid on Twitter he would need to hear more about the project's economic impact before giving it his support.

The developer is expected to present its final project design to TMR councilin the spring.