Green and Blue: Cartierville Shows its Colours

By: Simon Chauvette, Mark Elsworthy, Alanna Felt, Marion Gale

McGill University School of Urban Planning

Studio 1

Fall 2012

Introduction

Following detailed study of the Gouin-Laurentien area, this plan was prepared to assist in the revitalisation of the neighbourhood and to guide its future development. On 18 November 2012, the World Bank issued a report warning that by the year 2100, the global temperature will rise by four degrees Celsius. This shift will be marked by extreme heat waves, declining local food stocks, loss of ecosystems and biodiversity, and a severe rise in sea level.  This warning has particular implications for the City of Montreal regarding significant increases in temperature and sea level. As such, the development plan outlined below includes a series of goals, objectives and actions which will mitigate these risks, based on the vision and values outlined below.

Vision

The Gouin-Laurentien area of Cartierville will become a unified and green neighbourhood where residents from all cultures and economic backgrounds can live, work and play. In twenty years’ time, the sector will be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. The neighbourhood’s unique identity will be evident, and its integration within the City of Montréal will be reinforced. Two vibrant cultural and economic nodes will contribute to the connection of the different urban fabrics in the area, and mark the entry points to the neighbourhood and the island of Montréal.

Master Plan

Values

• Environmental sustainability: the built environment should be coherently integrated into the natural environment and have the capacity to adapt to climate change.
• Social equity: all members of the community should have equal access to employment, cultural, educational, and housing facilities;
• Social cohesion: individuals in the community should have the opportunity to interact freely;
• Dynamic economy: diverse employment opportunities and commercial activity should be locally available; and
• Identity: the area should have a unique and strong sense of place.

Goal 1.   Manage resources at the source

Goal 2.   Enhance local and regional transportation choices and connections

Goal 3.   Strengthen identity through local features

Goal 4.   Foster a complete community

Key sectors of intervention

Green Network

Activity Map

Perspective: Civic Hub

Perspective: Civic Hub

Perspective: Civic Hub

Périnault Street Cross-sections Existing and Proposed

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