The Mount Royal Cross gets a pricey make-over

Photo: HalfandHeart

According to CBC News, the Mount Royal cross will be turned off Friday - I’m guessing today- to have some renovations done:
Paint, change to polychromatic bulbs (funky, we like), the cost for this make over is expected to be $982,138. Not sure if this was a typo, maybe the meant $9,821.38. or maybe 98,000? Because the six figure total seems like an incredibly high price to pay for a change of bulbs and a fresh coat of paint, even if the cross is 31 meters long.

“Montreal’s landmark electric cross on Mount Royal will be turned off Friday to allow for renovations.
The 83-year-old cross will be repainted and outfitted with a new energy-efficient lighting system, which will include polychromatic bulbs to allow a greater variety of colours.
Makeover costs are expected to total $982,138, Plateau Mont Royal borough Mayor Helen Fotopoulos said.
The 31.4-metre cross was installed in 1924 and normally glows white, but turns purple as a sign of mourning when the pope dies.”

Makes you wonder…How much are they paying for those bulbs?

Builders and Land Developers facing challenges right now

With financial markets roiling, oil and gas prices gyrating and the extent of the fallout in the Canadian real estate market uncertain, many current and aspiring homeowners seem content to stand still and wait out the turmoil.

Home builders don’t have that option.

“This whole industry is a big ship and it doesn’t turn on a dime,” says Niall Haggart, vice-president at Daniels Corp.

Builders and land developers face a battalion of challenges right now: Spillover from the collapse of the U.S. housing market is starting to drag down real estate sales and prices in Canada but no one can predict how long or steep the slide will be.

In Ontario, the government’s official plan to curb urban sprawl is making land available for building scarce and therefore more expensive, developers complain.

At the same time, higher materials costs for builders are also pushing up the cost of even a modest townhouse in the suburbs out of the reach of first-time buyers.

Meanwhile, immigration brings potential new buyers into the housing market just as the looming retirement dates of baby boomers could lead to a wave of downsizing.

Builders buy land several years before they ever have a house or condominium unit ready for a buyer. Many are trying to adjust to the shifting landscape and predict where the market will be a few years out.

Read the complete article

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Construction snooper update: ETS delivers before due date

Remember back in April when this building was still under development? They were aiming the grand opening for September this year.  This picture was taken just this weekend. And here we have it: completed, delivered and already occupied.
Yes, miracles do happen! - Mind you, the construction crew must be happy to finally finish this rush-hour job.

The bonus: instead of opening a food court as previously advertised, they ended up locking a lease with a major grocery store. No Inter-Marché here. Go big or home.

And notice the sleek glass wall dividing the building.  Very nice, indeed.
Not bad for a student housing!

Meanwhile, this guy across the street remains for sale. According to one of our readers, as he explained it in his comment, the owner is asking a bit too much for the piece of land:

“Well i can tell you why this piece of “prime land” is still for sale and neglected:
the owner - an old man who is in no rush to sell - asks $3,8 million for the building and the parking at back.
I inquired because the building itself interrests me and i had - notice the past tense here - i had a smooth idea to help bring some life in the area, but there is no way i can find 3.8 $M and expect to be profitable or even break even.
SO saddly this land will be bought by a huge contractor who will pop some souless commercial spaces at the bottom and put up as many condos as needed to be profitable on top.

My two cents :)

Ugo”

Celebrity Condo: 333 Sherbrooke East.

333 Sherbrooke St., East: a luxury condominium project designed to appeal to a clientele with an eye for quality and location.

In the heart of Montreal’s trendy Plateau neighbourhood, the development consists of 83 units in Phase I, 67 units in Phase II, and 30 townhouses linked to the property. The second phase of construction at 333 Sherbrooke St. East, was officially launched on April 1st 2008 by Richard Homburg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Homburg Invest Inc., the occupancy is set for autumn 2008. The $35 million second phase increases Homburg Invest’s total commitment to its Montreal portfolio to more than $1 billion over the past three years.

“Phase I is effectively sold out, and Phase II sales have surpassed the critical level needed to ensure the success of the project. Once completed, 333 Sherbrooke St. East will be a reference for luxury condominium living in downtown Montreal.” Mr. Homburg said.

To date, the project has attracted buyers from all over Europe, the United States and Canada.

“Location, location, location. Montreal is ideally situated as a major crossroads for European and North American trade and business,” Mr. Homburg continued. “Montreal possesses all the qualities of a major real estate market, from a large, well educated population to a solid transportation infrastructure to a growing economy supported by healthy activity in several key sectors, like aerospace, life sciences and information technology”

Source: NewsWire.ca

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St Laurent Blvd: Under the knife again.

Oh yes, once again Boulevard St. Laurent is going through major repairs. This time though, the city has put up a sign with the details of the work. Thanks, that helps a lot.

Not having enough repairs done last year, the digging up started once again, this time it’s Gaz Métro turn. The city intends to add a few “cosmetic changes” to the boulevard by enlarging the sidewalks (aren’t those sidewalks brand spanking-new?): addition of lamps and trees, insertion of historic indicators (if this continues, there will be no one who’d care to read them!), taxi stands, bus stops and even the installation of parking for bicycles on the sidewalk.(Uh?). The good news, the bicycle parking is already done, at least on this side of the street:

Expect nothing but dust, noise and traffic jams in Blvd St Laurent between Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal. Hopefully, the local merchants will not go out of business. One more year of construction hell, then (crossing fingers) back to normal. Unless, of course, someone else decides to install a baby-stroller path, or something similar to it.

Media Coverage [Montreal Gazette]:

Pain on the Main: Work plans raise a stink
How city hall is killing St. Laurent Blvd. - one construction barrier at a time

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Construction Snooper: ETS Student Housing.

When we saw the construction from this side of the building, the first thing that came to mind was “Yet another condo project.” But, as it turns out, it will be a new housing for the ETS students, located in the south-east corner of Rue Notre Dame and de la Montagne. According to the sign, it promises to deliver over 450 beds, food court on the first floor, etc. Not bad.

We found out from the workers, the project is expected to be ready by September 2008, although the sign says: Opening Summer 2008. They are only one month behind schedule, wow. Could this be the only project in Montreal that will open on time? We have to see it to believe it. We are keeping our eyes on it.

An interesting thing that will happen is the following: The project across the street Read more

Development Spotlight: Gillette Lofts

Location: 1085, St-Alexandre, Montreal.
Size: 6 floors, 55 units.
Prices: $300 per square foot.
Architect: Karl Fischer
Developer: Mark Dichter & Noam Schnitzer
The Scoop:

Five floors feature 12- or 13-foot ceilings, and a wide open floor plan that will make is easy to create large open lofts. The units range in size from 650 feet to 1,200 feet, though some buyers have been buying and combining units. Prices work out to about $300 a square foot. The developers are adding a glass and steel penthouse, which will contain five luxurious two-storey units. Prices for those are in the $1-million range.

For more information visit: www.gillettelofts.com