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An official groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday at the site of Montreal’s iconic former Molson brewery complex, marking the beginning of construction on Quartier Molson.
Once complete, it will become the city’s newest neighbourhood.
Groupe Montoni and Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ are leading the redevelopment of the area, which sits just south of Notre-Dame Street, at the foot of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.
The Molson Brewery, founded by John Molson in 1786, is the oldest continually operating brewery in North America. The building itself now sits unused, however, and demolition work has already been underway on parts of the facility after Molson’s brewing operations moved to Longueuil, Que.
“We are fully mindful of the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to us as the developer of this new Montreal neighbourhood, on an iconic site imbued with history and heritage fronting over half a kilometre of the St. Lawrence River shore,” said Montoni president Dario Montoni.
“Today begins a new chapter in Montréal’s history, and we are honoured to help write it.”
One of the planned highlights of the project will be a brand new Sohmer Park. The original was a popular gathering place for Montrealers in the late 1800s, before burning down in 1919.
In addition to the park, the area will eventually be home to a mixed-used residential neighbourhood that overlooks the St. Lawrence River.
WATCH | Work officially underway:
Work to build Montreal’s newest neighbourhood at old Molson brewery site begins
The Quartier Molson project is underway south of Notre-Dame Street, near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Developers are turning Montreal’s former Molson Brewery complex into a new neighbourhood with almost 5,000 housing units, stores and a park.
The first stage of development will include a 383-unit rental apartment block designed by Sid Lee Architecture. The building, which will feature a 22,000-square-foot supermarket, is expected to cost more than $190 million to build.
It’s slated for delivery in summer 2028.
The full Quartier Molson project promises 5,000 housing units, along with shops, restaurants, hotel accommodations and other services.
The developers say they’ve also set aside a portion of land for a possible school on the site.
In a statement to CBC News, the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) said it had submitted a request to the province’s Education Ministry for a school with 12 classrooms in the future neighbourhood.
WATCH | The developers initially shared their vision for the site in 2024:
Developers showcase their plan for Montreal’s old Molson Brewery site
The developers intend to create a mixed-use neighbourhood with 20 per cent of units dedicated to social housing. The project is still in its early stages, but developers hope to start construction in 2025.