Developers decry Montreal’s ‘much longer’ project delays

RENX  Residential, Commercial  •  Condominiums, Office, Apartments, Retail  •  Greater Montreal

Devimco Immobilier says the City of Montreal is dragging its heels on approving its proposed $2.5-billion mixed-use redevelopment in Griffintown. Devimco has joined 13 other signatories in sending an open letter to Montreal’s mayor about increasing restrictions, bureaucracy and delays.

Transit, malls to spur Montreal West Island growth: CBRE

Residential, Commercial  •  Globe and Mail  •  RENX

While Montreal’s office sector is softening because of COVID-19, CBRE sales and client strategy analyst Jacinthe Lachapelle says the redevelopment of CF Fairview Pointe Claire mall and other transit-oriented developments are a positive sign of things to come.

Caisse loses assets executive Macky Tall

Commercial  •  Globe and Mail (Sub. required)  •  La Presse  •  La Presse

Macky Tall, head of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec real assets and private-equity units and its CDPQ Infra subsidiary, has resigned just as Caisse tries to rebound from its first investment loss in more than a decade.

Design, Policy and Canadian Cities › How Toronto’s CityPlace found its sense of place

Naama Blonder: Architect, Urban Designer, Urban Planner | B.Arch, OAA, RPP, MCIP

Richcraft plans two Ottawa residential high-rises

Residential  •  Ottawa Business Journal

Ottawa-based Richcraft Homes wants to build two residential high-rises of 25 and 27 storeys just east of the corner of Bank and Lisgar Streets in the latest plan from a major developer to add more density to the downtown Ottawa core.

Capital proposes triangular 30-storey condo tower

Residential  •  Urban Toronto

Capital Developments has applied to redevelop a triangular site where the neighbourhoods of Yorkville and Rosedale meet. If it gets the green light, the area could see a 30-storey condo tower whose sculpted shape takes cues from the surrounding context.

Sponsored by MNP Relief for commercial tenants and property owners: Breaking down the CERS

The federal government recently announced the revised version of Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), now known as the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) (see our blog). While the names seem similar, the programs are significantly different.

Rent program still leaves small businesses behind: CFIB

Commercial  •  Globe and Mail  •  Globe Newswire  •  Globe and Mail (Sub. required)

Ottawa’s new rent relief program for small and medium-sized businesses has numerous gaps that block some entrepreneurs from accessing it despite it being tailored to correct problems with the government’s previous program, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says.

What’s next for Toronto’s Rogers Centre?

Commercial  •  Toronto Star  •  Toronto Star  •  Toronto Star

If a new home for the Toronto Blue Jays is to be built downtown, it would mean ripping up a lease for the Rogers Centre with Canada Lands Company (CLC), which isn’t set to expire until 2088.

Quebec to spend $778M on northern development plan

Commercial  •  Montreal Gazette  •  La Presse  •  Les Affaires

The provincial government will spend $778 million relaunching a northern development plan. Highlights include extending Highways 138 and 389 to facilitate transportation of merchandise as well as development of port facilities in Pointe-Noire in Sept-Îles and  increased access to the Labrador Trough.

Infrastructure Bank needs to get shovels in the ground

Residential, Commercial  •  Globe and Mail (Sub. required)  •  Montreal Gazette

OPINION: Failing to get projects built is becoming a national nightmare for Canada. Boston Consulting Group published a survey in January that showed the quality of the country’s infrastructure is “mediocre” – ranking 14th out of 28 industrial countries.

Parliament Hill renovation: A look behind the scenes

Commercial  •  Globe and Mail

VIDEO: The federal government gave a rare behind-the-scenes tour at the extensive renovations currently being done to Parliament Hill’s iconic Centre Bloc.

Three REITs worthy of attention

Residential, Commercial  •  Globe and Mail (Sub. required)

NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT (NWH-UN-T) offers a portfolio of high-quality healthcare real estate. Minto Apartment REIT (MI-UN-T) was one of the few REITs to raise its distribution this year. Granite REIT (GRT-UN-T) is up an impressive 14.7 per cent since Jan. 1.

Sobeys saying yes to ‘hero pay’, no to gouging suppliers

Commercial  •  Toronto Star

For Empire Co. CEO Michael Medline, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic were a flurry of meetings as he and his team scrambled to fulfil the grocery brand’s new role as an essential service.

IKEA turns the page on catalogue after seven decades

Commercial  •  Reuters  •  Canada Newswire  •  CBC

Budget furniture giant IKEA said it has taken the emotional decision to end a seven-decade tradition and discontinue its catalogue, one of the world’s biggest annual publications, as shoppers move online.

COVID-19 has threatened restaurants’ future

Commercial  •  Globe and Mail (Sub. required)

OPINION: One evening in late August, my husband, Roland, and I walked from our home to my restaurant Bar Vendetta to have dinner for the first time since mid-March. That month, I shut down all five of my restaurants.

Vancouver takes over ownership of derelict hotels

Commercial  •  CBC  •  CTV  •  Global News

The City of Vancouver says it has reached a settlement with the owners of the Balmoral and Regent hotels to expropriate the derelict properties on the Downtown Eastside. The hotels were ordered shut over safety concerns in 2017 and 2019.

Revera report calls out ‘cracks’ in long-term care

Residential  •  Toronto Star  •  Globe Newswire

A new report from Revera Inc. calls out shortcomings in the public health system’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the for-profit long-term care operator faces flak for its part in recent outbreaks.

Real-estate plans of young Quebecers on hold: Poll

Residential  •  Montreal Gazette  •  Canada Newswire

Just as they bore the brunt of the economic fallout of the pandemic, young Quebecers are finding themselves affected far more than their elders when it comes to buying or selling a home, a survey made public Tuesday suggests.

Edmonton’s real estate expected to slow in 2021

Residential  •  Edmonton Journal

The hot streak in Edmonton’s real estate market is likely to fizzle early into next year. Altus Group predicts Edmonton’s market will struggle due to weak demand from lacklustre economic growth, in large part because of the pandemic.