The first construction update of 2018! much has happened since the last update, projects have been commencing, progressing or have finished. In this update, the focus will be on the Bell Centre cluster and Griffintown (South downtown) projects, while the next update will focus on the Bell Centre cluster + East downtown projects.

Centra condos (16-floors) progressing, they’ve installed the crane recently. The promoter has announced phase 4/5 (De la Montagne project) and I will update this once more info gets announced.

Another 16-floor condo project close to being topped off, with YUL phase 1 in the background which is almost completed.

Digging for YUL phase 2 continues, and Tour des Canadiens phase 2 is starting to peak out in the background as well.

Boulevard Rene Levesque has changed rapidly in the past three years. With the number of projects completed and more down the pipeline, this can be considered our mini-Manhattan or mini-South Core Toronto.

TDC 2 continuing to rise rapidly. In other big news, pile diving has started for the third phase of Tour des Canadiens! only a couple of months after the announcement of the third phase.

TDC2/ ground prep where TDC3 will stand.

TDC2 is already making a huge impact on the skyline, which will only be magnified once TDC3 starts to rise beside it.

Griffintown

Another part of downtown that has been growing rapidly is Griffintown. Last time I stepped foot in Griffintown was towards the end of 2016. Since then, many projects have been completed, but much more have started. Everywhere you turn is either a crane, a parking lot that will be closed off soon, or a new condo. Between 2011-2016, the population in Griffintown grew by 642%, growth numbers you rarely see in any major city in North America. Many projects have been announced recently, with dozens more proposed/approved.

In the foreground, digging for the new ETS (engineering school) complex, in the background construction of social housing.

Looking towards the downtown core

A beautiful mural in Griffintown. This lot will soon see a new tech office being built, but not sure when it’ll commence.

I do hope these old rowhouses and warehouses end up staying in Griffintown. The juxtaposition between the old and new give it a unique character.

The new highrise cluster in Griffintown. The empty lot in front has a 17-floor condo proposal.

YOO Montreal by Philippe Stark.

Multi-layers of highrises between 17 to 22 floors. Exalto in the foreground, with Lowney sur Ville in the background and Griffix condos to the right.

Le Wellington phase 3

The cluster of new towers, to the right there’s another two or three that have started construction.

Le Brickfield with Le Wellington phase 1-2 to the left.

New highrises in Griffintown.

Gallery Sur Le canal phase 2 commencing, with other various projects going on in the vicinity.

Cranes dominate Griffintown.

The impact of the new towers is astonishing.

Arbora condos (8-floors), these condos are made out of wood.

Cranes for various projects.

And yet another view of the growing core, with Deloitte, TDC1,2, L’avenue and Rocabella 1/2 making their presence felt.

The building boom continues to happen, although there has been a relative slowdown in announced projects, the city is buzzing with activity. Dozens of projects will start soon in Griffintown, new towers are proposed in the Bell Centre cluster and earlier today, the largest available lot downtown was sold for $100 million to Broccolini (developers of L’Avenue and 628 St. Jacques).