Brossard’s future downtown: our collective future
Brossard will undergo a major metamorphosis in the coming years. We’re going to modernize it with this city center of the future. This project is the result of a participatory approach and discussions with key players on the vision of the city of tomorrow.
The Panama sector, in the heart of the city, will become the new downtown thanks to its strategic location and attractiveness, enhanced by the implementation of the REM. The Panama sector is a focal point connecting Brossard to other municipalities, with all services within easy reach.
” You know, it’s not every day in the history of a city that we build a downtown from scratch. It’s a huge challenge, but also a unique opportunity to create a place that reflects our identity, our values and our vision. A place that responds to the human need to gather, socialize and network. A place that stimulates innovation, culture and economic development. “explained Doreen Assaad, Mayor of Brossard, during her presentation of the future downtown area at Les Grands diners de la Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de la Rive-Sud.
This future inclusive and sustainable downtown will cover the area between Mail Champlain andHôtel de Ville, including Place Portobello and REM’s Panama Station.
It will offer a diversity of functions and atmospheres, with :
- green spaces;
- public squares;
- shops;
- offices;
- housing;
- cultural and sports facilities.
It will be connected to various modes of transport, including the REM, which will link Brossard to downtown Montréal in 15 minutes.
A dynamic, green and inclusive living space for citizens
Can you imagine enjoying an aperitif on a terrace on the GRANDE ESPLANADE, walking in the PARC CENTRAL or setting up your place of business in the heart of downtown Brossard?
“I don’t know about you, but I think it’s good to talk optimistically about our major projects. It’s great news for the population and the entire business community of the South Shore and Greater Montréal. I’m proud to be part of this ambitious and innovative vision for our city. What do you think?” declared Brossard Mayor Doreen Assaad.
The public esplanade will offer a varied and playful itinerary, punctuated by public squares, fountains, sculptures and kiosks. A veritable backbone, it will link the various focal points of the city center and encourage people to meet and get involved.
The central park of the future downtown area
The central park of the future city center is the heart and green lung of the project. Inspired by the Martin Luther King Park in Paris, it offers a space for relaxation and leisure, with play areas, shared gardens, sports fields and cultural spaces. The park is designed to be accessible and suitable for all ages and seasons.
A boulevard designed for all modes of transport
A loop will bypass Highway 10 and link the neighborhoods together. This loop is dedicated to active modes of transport such as cycling and walking.
Brossard will optimize its transit HUB, which will connect downtown to the REM and other transportation networks.
The revitalization of boulevard Taschereau is at the heart of our vision of a greener, more urban and more convivial downtown. We want to offer citizens and businesses an environment conducive to sustainable mobility, well-being and economic vitality. That’s why we presented our development project, which integrates all modes of transport.
Brossard is a growing city with big ambitions for the future. We want to create a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive living environment for our citizens.
But we also know that growth brings with it major challenges: how can we promote sustainable mobility, affordable housing and the preservation of green spaces? How can we adapt our infrastructures and public services to the needs of the population? How can we reconcile development with respect for the environment? These are questions that challenge us and call for innovative solutions.
That’s why we have a vision of intelligent urban densification that takes into account the aspirations and concerns of our citizens. We are working with all local stakeholders, including landowners, to develop projects that will improve the quality of life in Brossard.
A participatory approach
The future city center is the fruit of a participative and collaborative approach, involving local players, experts and citizens. We wanted to create a city center that reflects its inhabitants: lively, green and human.
In 2021, the Ville de Brossard undertook a participatory process to revise the Programme particulier d’urbanisme (PPU) for the TOD Panama sector. This was the first step towards the creation of a future city center.
The aim of the process was to gather the views of various stakeholders, with a view to designing land-use planning in line with people’s aspirations and concerns. Various activities were organized over the next two years to provide food for thought for the city:
- online questionnaire
- information evening
- ideation workshop
- public consultation
The City wishes to thank the hundreds of Brossard residents who took part in the various activities organized. Their involvement has helped lay the foundations for an ambitious project that will define the Brossard of tomorrow.
To find out more, visit the Pensons Brossard website.
Comments, suggestions and questions
Citizen question: Is it possible to consult the special urban plan for the downtown area?
Ville de Brossard answer: Yes, the plan can be downloaded by clicking here.
Citizen question: I’m curious to know how many Brossard residents were consulted for this project?
Ville de Brossard response: Nearly 2,400 people took part in the participatory process, which included four (4) activities.
Citizen’s question: I’d like an assessment of the overall timetable for the various project components.
Ville de Brossard’s response: In 2024, we will continue discussions with landowners and plan to return to the public. In 2024, we’ll be adopting a special urban development plan to guide the development of the downtown area. We’ll then be able to draw up a timetable outlining the main phases of the project.
Citizen comment: it was with great enthusiasm that I looked at the plan and read the message from our Mayor, Doreen Assaad. I do have one concern, however: it seems that the Panama space is small enough to contain all the good ideas (green space, water feature, stores, promenade, esplanade…) that are being promoted.
Congratulations on this initiative, and I wish us every success in building the future Downtown Brossard!
Answer Ville de Brossard: The future inclusive and sustainable downtown will cover the area between Mail Champlain and Hôtel de ville, including Place Portobello and the REM Panama station. As our ultimate goal is to ensure that citizens occupy and appropriate the space, this new living environment makes ample room for their needs by integrating green spaces.
Citizen comment: I’ve read about the downtown construction project, which I hope won’t be identical to what’s planned. I’d just like to say that the plan to build residential towers along Taschereau Boulevard and near the REM is completely illogical; but given the mistake of building so many on the river side of Saint-Laurent Boulevard, we can expect the same bad decisions to be repeated for the downtown project. But of course, the lure of the tax dollars it will bring to the city seems more of a priority than keeping the suburban feel that was so appreciated by most of your citizens. Thank you for your attention.
Ville de Brossard’s response: Our vision for the downtown area may evolve as a result of discussions with landowners and public input. We want this downtown area to be an added value for the entire population. High-rise buildings are planned in the heart of the town center to preserve the peaceful character of existing residences. It’s good practice to densify sustainable mobility hubs like Panama Station. We invite you to follow our communications on the development of this project.
Citizen comment: I look at the plan and find that there are a lot of tall buildings. I hope it’s not a copy-paste of the neighboring REM station development at Dix 30. Thanks for sharing.
Answer Ville de Brossard: High-rise construction is planned in the heart of downtown to preserve the peaceful character of existing residences. It’s good practice to densify sustainable mobility hubs like Panama Station. We invite you to follow our communications on the development of this project.
Citizen’s question: Will there be demolitions somewhere, where and replaced by what and how and what will be the cost and absorbed by whom? How do you get to this new site if you can’t walk far?
Ville de Brossard response: It is important to clarify that the video represents our vision for the future of downtown Brossard. This vision may evolve as a result of talks with landowners and our discussions with the public. We want this downtown area to be an added value for the entire population. We invite you to follow our communications on the development of this project.
Citizen question: I’m writing to you as a resident of Section R. I saw the city’s new plan for the “Revitalization of Taschereau Boulevard” as part of Brossard’s Future Downtown and was surprised by the illustration. I like the bike lane, but why do we need a streetcar? Taschereau already suffers from heavy rush-hour traffic, and the city’s plan is to halve the number of lanes and add a tramway? Who’s going to pay for this expensive tramway when hybrid/electric buses work so well? It doesn’t make sense.
Answer Ville de Brossard: The success of the downtown project is closely linked to the revitalization of boulevard Taschereau. We agree with you that traffic is dense and that an efficient, modern form of public transport is precisely what is needed to improve the situation.
Progress schedule
Brossard will undergo a major metamorphosis in the coming years. We’re going to modernize it with this city center of the future. This project is the result of a participatory approach and discussions with key players on the vision of the city of tomorrow.
The Panama sector, in the heart of the city, will become the new downtown thanks to its strategic location and attractiveness, enhanced by the implementation of the REM. The Panama sector is a focal point connecting Brossard to other municipalities, with all services within easy reach.
This future inclusive and sustainable downtown will cover the area between the MAIL CHAMPLAIN and theHÔTEL DE VILLE, via the PLACE PORTOBELLO and the PANAMA DU REM STATION.
It will offer a diversity of functions and atmospheres, with :
- green spaces;
- public squares;
- shops;
- offices;
- housing;
- cultural and sports facilities.
It will be connected to various modes of transport, including the REM, which will link Brossard to downtown Montréal in 15 minutes.
Can you imagine enjoying an aperitif on a terrace on the GRANDE ESPLANADE, walking in the PARC CENTRAL or setting up your place of business in the heart of downtown Brossard?
“I don’t know about you, but I think it’s good to talk optimistically about our major projects. It’s great news for the population and the entire business community of the South Shore and Greater Montréal. I’m proud to be part of this ambitious and innovative vision for our city. What do you think?” declared Brossard Mayor Doreen Assaad.
The public esplanade will offer a varied and playful itinerary, punctuated by public squares, fountains, sculptures and kiosks. A veritable backbone, it will link the various focal points of the city center and encourage people to meet and get involved.
The central park of the future city center is the heart and green lung of the project. Inspired by the Martin Luther King Park in Paris, it offers a space for relaxation and leisure, with play areas, shared gardens, sports fields and cultural spaces. The park is designed to be accessible and suitable for all ages and seasons.
A loop will bypass Highway 10 and link the neighborhoods together. This loop is dedicated to active modes of transport such as cycling and walking.
Brossard will optimize its transit HUB, which will connect downtown to the REM and other transportation networks.
The revitalization of boulevard Taschereau is at the heart of our vision of a greener, more urban and more convivial downtown. We want to offer citizens and businesses an environment conducive to sustainable mobility, well-being and economic vitality. That’s why we presented our development project, which integrates all modes of transport.
Brossard is a growing city with big ambitions for the future. We want to create a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive living environment for our citizens.
But we also know that growth brings with it major challenges: how can we promote sustainable mobility, affordable housing and the preservation of green spaces? How can we adapt our infrastructures and public services to the needs of the population? How can we reconcile development with respect for the environment? These are questions that challenge us and call for innovative solutions.
That’s why we have a vision of intelligent urban densification that takes into account the aspirations and concerns of our citizens. We are working with all local stakeholders, including landowners, to develop projects that will improve the quality of life in Brossard.
We’re proud of our city and its great potential.
We invite you to join us on this collective adventure!
A participatory approach
For a downtown that reflects the people of Brossard
The future city center is the fruit of a participative and collaborative approach, involving local players, experts and citizens. We wanted to create a city center that reflects its inhabitants: lively, green and human.
In 2021, the Ville de Brossard undertook a participatory process to revise the Programme particulier d’urbanisme (PPU) for the TOD Panama sector. This was the first step towards the creation of a future city center.
The aim of the process was to gather the views of various stakeholders, with a view to designing land-use planning in line with people’s aspirations and concerns. Various activities were organized over the next two years to provide food for thought for the city:
- online questionnaire
- information evening
- ideation workshop
- public consultation
The City wishes to thank the hundreds of Brossard residents who took part in the various activities organized. Their involvement has helped lay the foundations for an ambitious project that will define the Brossard of tomorrow.
