A place to Call Home: A strategy to maximizing housing in the Gouin Laurentien sector of borough of Ahuntsic Cartierville
By: Cara Fisher, Kate-Issima Francin, Daniella Guerrero, Chelsea Medd
McGill University School of Urban Planning
Studio 1
Fall 2012
The Gouin-Laurentien sector of the Borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville serves as a link between the Island of Montréal, Laval, and the broader metropolitan area. The Gouin-Laurentien sector has a diverse demographic composition in terms of ethnicity and in levels of income, making it an area of great contrasts and facing a number of challenges. The commercial activity on both Boulevard Gouin and Boulevard Laurentien is unstable, and the areas have difficulty maintaining a loyal customer base.i The sector has many parks and natural green spaces, but mobility and accessibility are an issue for many local residents. The analysis conducted in phase one identified that the sector suffers from a transient population, families move out of the in search of larger, more affordable housing or a better served neighbourhood.
This comprehensive plan, titled “A Place to Call Home”, aims to address retention of residents in the Gouin-Laurentien sector by offering a well-connected living environment where residents can meet their daily needs and where they will remain for many years to come. The plan outlines five strategic goals to create a better neighbourhood with a strong sense of place and an active community life. A key component is a housing strategy that recommends new housing developments and implementation of the existing housing policies. To highlight the key recommendations, two areas for intervention have been selected that focus on housing and mobility.
Master Plan
Vision:
The year is 2035, and the Gouin-Laurentien neighborhood, part of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, is a vibrant residential community. The Gouin-Laurentien area welcomes diversity by attracting residents from all around the region with the affordability of its housing and the quality of life if offers. The variety of businesses and high quality public realm along boulevards Gouin and Laurentien offer an excellent shopping experience for visitors and residents alike. The neighbourhood has a mix of residential options that meet the needs of the population and is a place accessible by public transit, automobile, bicycle and foot. The Gouin-Laurentien neighbourhood’s cultural diversity, welcoming public spaces, strong local economy and its proximity to the Rivière des Prairies make it a place where people want to grow old.
Our vision is supported by five key goals: to stabilize local population with new housing options, to enhance accessibility and mobility, to encourage community building, to create a vibrant public realm and to revitalize economic activity.
Goals and Housing Strategy Diagram
