$1B Brossard mixed development aims to be 'new centre of Montreal's South Shore'

The company behind the Dix30shoppingdevelopment in Brossard is plowing ahead with another major South Shore project, which will include a station for the new Caisse de dpt-backed lightrail train.

Estimated at more than $1 billion, the Devimcoproject is describedas "the biggest mixed property project in Quebec" that aims to become the"future city-centre ofMontreal'sSouth Shore," according to a statement from the company.

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The project, dubbedSolar Uniquartier, wasunveiled at an announcement Monday attended by Health MinisterGatan Barrette, the MNA for the areaand Brossard Mayor Paul Leduc.

The new developmentwill be located at the northwest intersection of Highways 10 and 30, near theDix30 shopping centre.

Roughly 2,500 residential units will be built around a large public square.It will also have 1,000,000 square feet of commercial and office space, along with hotels, a park,a convention centre and a "European-inspired" sports complex.

Construction of the development is slatedto begin later this year or in early 2017,with the first homes ready two years later.

Light rail project is crucial

Unlike the Dix30 shopping centre, the new developmentis expected to cater to walking and cycling rather than cars.

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Brian Fahey, the urban planner for the project, says mass transit is key to the development as it will offer easy access to the proposed lightrailtrains.

"Being connected to the LRT is really most important for us because all people living in our development are going to be able to walk toward the LRT and cross over the public space or central park," he said.

The LRT is scheduled to be completed by 2020.