Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has announced a significant change in the city’s housing policies, revealing that the requirement for mixed housing on new projects will be eliminated.
During a recent press conference, Mayor Ferrada outlined the plan to phase out the current regulation, starting with a 20 percent off-market housing requirement. This will be followed by the introduction of financial incentives, to be decided upon by a forthcoming working group.
Furthermore, it was disclosed that the City has already earmarked 80 of its own sites for off-market and mixed-use housing developments, with around half of these locations ready for immediate construction. The full list of these sites is expected to be released to the public on March 1st.
Mayor Ferrada emphasized that by streamlining regulations, prioritizing off-market housing, and utilizing City-owned land, they aim to facilitate construction processes and empower stakeholders to take proactive steps in addressing housing challenges.
In a related move, the financial obligations associated with the previous mixed housing bylaw will be capped at 2025 levels, applicable only to projects exceeding 18,000 square meters during the initial phase.
This reform is part of the 20-20-20 bylaw, known as the Règlement pour une métropole mixte (RMM), which was put in place by former Mayor Valérie Plante, mandating that new developments allocate 20 percent of units for families and social and affordable housing.
Mayor Ferrada had pledged to eliminate this requirement during her election campaign, responding to criticisms from real estate developers who deemed it restrictive. She noted that the Plante administration had already eased several regulations in this regard.
Additionally, the Mayor announced plans to provide further financial assistance to support non-profits in land acquisition and loans. A $50 million allocation has been set aside in the City’s budget for this purpose, with non-profits also eligible for loans of up to $3 million through a partnership with the Plancher Fund.
Ferrada emphasized the City’s commitment to being an active and supportive partner in addressing the housing crisis, emphasizing collaboration and swift, tangible outcomes as the way forward.
