MAISONS OUTREMONT
A multi-generational development
When Gaby Deschênes offered to visit Maisons Outremont for his wife Françoise Dulac’s nephew, who was in the market for a townhouse along with his wife, he never thought he’d wind up with a new condo of his own, but that’s exactly what happened.
“It all started when Jean-François and Noémie were looking for a condo here in Outremont, in our building on Bernard Street, and nothing was available. I had heard about Maisons Outremont through the grapevine, read about it online, and thought it was a really nice location. I looked for us, too, but nothing was available at the time,” Deschênes said.
“I decided to go look at it for them since it called itself a multi-generational development because of the mix of condos, penthouses and three-storey townhouses, which is what they were interested in. In the end, a condo ended up being available for us as well.”
When most people picture multi-generational living, they probably imagine some version of adult children initiating a move to live together with their parents or grandparents in a house, to meet the older generation’s caregiving needs, but Dulac and Deschênes — who were married in 1970 — are in great shape and have no such needs.
They enjoy travelling, art and entertaining, and chose to buy a condo at Maisons Outremont simply because of its own inherent benefits as well as its proximity to their nephew and his wife, with whom they had actually lived before, albeit temporarily.
“When Noémie asked to move in during her internship, we wondered if we could live with a third person after living alone for so many years, but we tried and it was pure joy,” Dulac said. “It was a real discovery for us and wasn’t something I ever thought I’d have the chance to experience, not having had children.”
During their time together, the three of them (four whenever their nephew was in town, visiting from Quebec City) would have lively, drawn-out dinners something all of them greatly miss and enjoyed.
“We had lovely conversations and exchanges with them. They introduced us to a lot of their friends and we did the same, so there was a lot of inter-generational sharing,” Dulac said.
“I think there’s a big problem now, with seniors and isolation. Sure, you can join
groups and associations, but the kinds of conversations you have are different from the ones you might have with younger people, who are still working.”
Located at the foot of Mount Royal, on Côte-Ste-Catherine Road at the site of the former headquarters of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Maisons Outremont is a sold-out project developed by Demonfort that’s scheduled for occupancy in the fall of 2019, with six three-storey townhouses and units ranging from one to three bedrooms, including 10 penthouses.
According to Deschênes, it sold out in less than a year through word of mouth.
“There are 62 units in the new development and it sold out within a year without any advertising,” he said. “We know around 12 other people that are going to be moving there, from the neighbourhood, so it’s going to be a real community environment.”
In addition to being surrounded by friends and family, Maisons Outremont will provide them with a variety of other pluses, including a balcony and sprawling green space.
“It’s located in an old convent and we’re going to be facing south, with a view of the interior courtyard and garden, so from the balcony it feels a little like you’re in the country,” Deschênes said.
“Here (in the building on Bernard Street), eventually, there might be a problem with the stairs in the condo, especially as we get older, but there are no stairs there. Everything is on the same level and there are also more services and amenities, like the gym and poolroom.”
Dulac works out regularly at a gym in the neighbourhood, but is eager to be able to work out from home when it’s too cold or icy to walk there safely during the winter — and is equally enthusiastic about the openconcept kitchen, living and dining area in the new condo.
“I really wanted an open concept so that when you’re preparing dinner and the guests have arrived you can stay with them, which was important for me,” she said. “And the kitchen is going to be more effective, workwise, because it’s going to have an island. Everyone can help because there’s room for everyone.”
In the end, Maisons Outremont had everything Deschênes and Dulac were looking for, including one thing they could find nowhere else.
Family.