The developer behind the proposed Royalmount megamall project in Town of Mount Royal says it plans to put a shovel into the ground this summer — in spite of concerns about increased traffic in the area and the lack of an okay from Montreal's agglomeration council.
The $1.8 billion, 2.5 million square foot project, to be built near the intersection of Highways 15 and 40, was formally unveiled on Monday by the developer, Carbonleo Real Estate Inc. It would feature an entertainment venue, restaurants, stores, five hotels, an aquatic park, a skating rink, and other businesses.
Snowdon councillor Marvin Rotrand insists the project is a bad fit for the area, and will mean an increased volume of traffic for the area.
"The promoter has not been particularly cooperative with the city council," Rotrand says. "The developer thinks they can ram through things."
Most of the project would be built within the city limits of the Town of Mount Royal, whose council has already okayed the project. Technically, Montreal's city council can't block the project, and Carbonleo's CEO Andrew Lutfy suggests TMR's approval is all he needs to press ahead.
Carbonleo, which is also behind the Dix30 project in Brossard, suggests Royalmount would be easily accessible by metro, and that about a third of those who visit the complex would arrive by metro. Lutfy says there'd also be a pedestrian walkway built across the Decarie Expressway between Royalmount and the nearby De La Savane metro station.
But Rotrand remains skeptical.
"I'm not exactly sure that's a realistic point of view," Rotrand says. "They're claiming a disproportionate amount of the clientele will come by metro. I don't believe that for a moment."
Lutfy told an audience at the Canadian Club of Montreal earlier this week his company is working with traffic experts and the provincial transport ministry to minimize concerns about traffic. He also suggests his main competition would not necessarily be merchants toward the centre of the city, but rather, off-island commercial centres.