Bois-Franc: the innovative neighbourhood that puts the focus on outdoor living
Eight years ago, Matt Szabo and his wife, Georgia Christopoulos, left their condo in the Plateau for a four-bedroom townhouse in BoisFranc, the innovative real estate project developed by Montclair and Sotramont. “We wanted a place that was away from the city but not in the suburbs, because at the time we were both working downtown, so the location was perfect — very accessible,” said the father of two boys, ages five and three. “The train station was a big draw, too.” Bordered by Henri-Bourassa, Thimens, Cavendish and Marcel-Laurin boulevards and developed in partnership by Montclair and Sotramont, Bois-Franc is a transit- and pedestrian-oriented development (TOD and POD) that was inspired by a new urbanism approach. Recent constructions include Montclair’s WR3 condos, currently being built along Henri-Bourassa Blvd. by the future Bois-Franc REM station, and Sotramont’s Square Norseman townhouses. Built near Bois-Franc station following a series of comparative studies of similar projects in the U.S. and Europe, the Bois-Franc neighbourhood is made up of a mix of townhouses and condos, connected by a series of lakes, parks and leisure spaces. There are sidewalks running throughout the development, street signs are designed to reduce the speed of traffic, and more than 30 per cent of the neighbourhood is dedicated to green space, putting the focus on outdoor living. “There are a lot of parks, so what happens is a lot of the families in the neighbourhood meet at the park. The highlight is the water fountains for the kids. It’s really fun and another community rallying point for all the neighbours,” Szabo said. “The upgrade coming with the train is going to be a huge boost to the community.” Other highlights include the area’s new skating rink during the winter, as well as the summer-long market organized by the Association des Propriétaires de BoisFranc. The new rapid transit station being planned for the area, the Bois-Franc Réseau express métropolitain (REM), will run 20 hours a day, seven days a week, and ensure even faster transport than the current train service, allowing residents to get downtown in under 16 minutes. Like Szabo, Lily Ilikeeva and her husband, Archy Oufa, also moved to Bois-Franc eight years ago — when Ilikeeva was pregnant with their first child, a boy. The family also has a four year-old girl. “We were living in Côtedes-Neiges at the time, in an apartment. We looked at a lot of condos, duplexes and townhouses there, but we liked this place the most,” said Ilikeeva, who currently lives in a street-level, two-storey condo with three bedrooms, an underground garage and a shared backyard with a pool. “The new school they built three years ago is one of the best things about the neighbourhood,” said the mother of two, who works outside the home as an elementary school French teacher in Lachine. In addition to being ideally located halfway between the West Island and downtown Montreal, right near public transport and both English and French schools, BoisFranc also has a town square known as the Grand-Place, with its very own clock tower. The idyllic area provides a convenient commercial hub with a variety of services, including a medical clinic, dentist, pharmacy, dry cleaner and hairdresser, as well as parking. At the Faubourg BoisFranc, located near the Wilfrid-Reid and Henri-Bourassa intersection, there’s a new IGA supermarket, Caisse Desjardins, Première Moisson, and another pharmacy. “We can walk to the IGA that was recently opened and Place Vertu is really nearby as well,” Ilikeeva said. “It’s conveniently located in the middle of everything and it’s easy to drive anywhere in 10 to 15 minutes.” Szabo, who no longer works downtown and found a job that’s within walking distance from his home as a developer at the Aldo Group, is happy he made the move and is even more impressed with how well his townhouse has aged. “One thing that I know about the development is that they really wanted to use clay bricks, because they age gracefully,” said Szabo, who lives in a four-storey townhouse with a double-sized terrace, private backyard and a double garage, in the basement. “My house is eight years old and there are still no signs of wear and tear. Even the houses that are 20 years old still look great.” The sales office is located at 5476 Henri-Bourassa Blvd. W., St-Laurent, QC. For more information, visit boisfranc. com.