Les Jardins Dorval shopping centre sold to developer
Les Jardins Dorval shopping centre has been sold to the North America Development Group.
Glenn Munro, speaking for NADG Montreal, said the purchase of the 95,078-square metre property was finalized last week, but would not comment further at this early stage in the planning process.
Mayor Edgar Rouleau told the West Island Gazette that Dorval’s director of urban planning, Mario St-Jean, will be meeting with NADG in the coming weeks to discuss the city’s vision for the property. The purchase includes the shopping mall and the parking lot located in the southern portion of the property.
“(NADG) knows we would like it to be mixed use — residential and commercial,” Rouleau said. “You see it more and more in the United States. For seniors it would be great. Look at the winter we are having. Seniors don’t want to go out to do their shopping.”
The zoning is already in place for a mixed-use project.
On its website, NADG is described as “active in the development, acquisition, redevelopment and management of over 200 shopping centres, mixed-use and residential developments comprising well over 35 million square feet across Canada and the United States.”
NADG’s Quebec presence includes commercial entities in Boucherville, Laval, Boisbriand and Rouyn-Noranda.
Rouleau said the Montreal Agglomeration Council’s Land Use and Development Plan encourages municipalities to densify, but that Dorval’s housing stock is primarily of the single-family home variety and there is very little vacant land available to develop.
“So when we have an opportunity like (the shopping centre sale) it’s good for us,” Rouleau said. “The property has already been identified as a TOD (transit-oriented development).”
TODs are developments within one kilometre of a transit hub. Via Rail, a major bus terminal and the international airport are all within the vicinity.
Because of the proximity to the airport, there will be height restrictions for the build. Rouleau speculated that peak height could be between eight and 10 storeys for an office or residential building. Transport Canada enforces the height restrictions, but was unable to supply the information requested by deadline.
Les Jardins Dorval first opened in 1954 and was considered the benchmark for shopping malls at the time, but its popularity had begun to slip. Rouleau said previous owner Strathallen Capital Corp. did a good job of upgrading the interior to make it an attractive location to shop, but that customer traffic continued to dwindle.
“Stores began to close and it no longer had the variety it once had,” the mayor said. “And people are shopping online more and more. You always need to buy a quart of milk and get your hair cut, so the (grocery store) and hair dresser are busy. But when it comes to jewelry or clothing stores, it’s tough.”