Montreal to build landmark condo tower in downtown core, with no foreign buyers? tax
Ursula Leonowicz
The Vancouver Sun
Starting at the bottom with its historic facade and 10-storey podium on St-Jacques Street and ending at the very top, 200 metres high in the air, Victoria sur le Parc is like nothing Montreal has ever seen, and with its 320,000 square feet of office space, 32,000 square feet of commercial space and 400 condominiums, it’s sure to become a landmark on par with the most stunning residences on Beach Ave.
“Montreal is growing at an unprecedented rate and we have the wind in our sails,” said Jean Langlois, director of communications and marketing for Broccolini, the developer behind the project. “As the largest mixed-use development the city’s core has seen in over a decade, Victoria sur le Parc is going to become its emblem.”
A combination of high-paying jobs and low cost of living are currently making Montreal one of the most affordable cities in North America to live in. The city’s unemployment rate is currently at its lowest recorded level in history, hovering around six per cent, and over the next three years more than $6.4 billion is going to be invested in the city’s infrastructure.
More than $2 billion in foreign investment was brought into the city last year, and unlike Toronto and Vancouver, there’s no foreign buyers’ tax in Montreal, and no tax imposed on vacant dwellings.
“The new light-rail system is another one of the city’s advantages,” Langlois said. “Even though it already has one of the most efficient public transit systems in the world, it’s going to get even better.”
Neighbourhood “People who choose to live downtown do so for the location above everything else, and what they may lose in square footage they gain in lifestyle and quality of living,” he said. “You can walk anywhere or take the métro and really live life beyond walls, exploring everything the city has to offer.”
Located in what’s known as the Quartier international, which is situated at the intersection of the city’s financial district and Old Port, Victoria sur le Parc is adjacent to Square Victoria — a lovely public green space that has been around since the early 1800s — and connected to Square-Victoria–OACI subway station.
Populated by a variety of visit-worthy sites, such as the Palais des congrès de Montréal and the Montreal stock exchange, the area is also home to a variety of mouth-watering foodie destinations, museums, shopping and entertainment options.
Design and architecture Anthony and Michael Broccolini, the two cousins behind the project, grew up surrounded by construction and real estate. They always looked up to the kinds of skyscrapers that helped put New York on the map.
“They think big and they have that sky’s-the-limit attitude, and that’s what Victoria sur le Parc is going to be,” Langlois said. “Broccolini is going to be 70 years old next year and it’s a third-generation, family-owned company — there’s a lot of pride involved in whatever we do.”
To have a vibrant downtown area, you need people who call it home — to make it feel like a place that’s lived in and has a soul. “We’re very conscious of the fact that we’re creating something that’s going to be here for years to come and that we’re changing the city’s skyline, so the responsibility that comes with that is huge,” Langlois said. “We’re proud to contribute to these parts of downtown that become like vertical communities.”
Units and penthouses Units will vary from one- and two-bedroom condos, feature nine-foot ceilings, central air conditioning and engineered hardwood flooring. The penthouses will be located on the tower’s top levels, from the 51st to the 57th floors, and come with 10- to 12-foot ceilings, heated floors and a wine fridge.
Amenities
- 24-hour concierge service
- Lobby with marble floors and floor-to-ceiling windows
- Four elevators
- Owners’ lounge with a fully-equipped kitchen, bar and lounge area
- State-of-the-art gym with yoga and meditation room
- Indoor pool, steam and sauna
- Exterior terrace with an outdoor infinity pool, green space and barbecue area
- Parking and electric car-charging stations
- Bicycle parking and repair
- Dog washing station
- Package delivery area
“All of the services that we’re trying to get on the ground floor, in the commercial area, will act as added amenities to the building and its residents,” Langlois explained. “Like a café, a boutique-style grocery store, and a restaurant — services that cater to making everyday living easier.”
Delivery and sales office Victoria sur le Parc is in pre-construction and is scheduled for delivery in 2023. The sales office is located at 700 St-Jacques St. Montreal, QC, H3C 1E9.
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