Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The federal government this week announced $50 million for the MileBrook project, a $340 million mixed-use development on the eastern end of Montreal Island. The project will provide 144 purpose-built rental units as part of a larger plan to build more than 800 units in the area.
Located at the eastern end of Sherbrooke Street, the project is designed to meet growing demand for housing and local businesses. It includes multi-generational units, outdoor training modules, children’s play areas, bicycle storage, two community gardens, and access to a future bike path.
Construction is already underway with a sustainable design including green spaces that protect wetlands on the site, green roofs, and units that are 25 per cent more energy-efficient than current building code requirements. The project aims to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
The $50 million investment is part of the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP), which provides low-interest, fully repayable loans to developers building rental housing. The program is part of the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy and aims to stimulate the construction of more rental housing, with a focus on affordability for middle-class families.
Local officials, including Caroline Bourgeois, Mayor of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles Borough, noted the importance of the development for the borough and the surrounding area, saying the new housing would provide much-needed homes and foster the growth of local businesses.
As of March 2024, the federal government had committed nearly $51 billion to housing projects across Canada, including the construction of over 146,000 new units and repairs to an additional 286,000 units.
