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“We don’t want to see Rockland go,” Roy said.
But T.M.R. wants to ensure any future redevelopment plans for the mall by its owner, Cominar, a real estate investment trust in which the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec owns a stake, will necessarily involve building underground parking, Roy added.
“We’re creating a framework,” he said. “We’re sending a message to the owner of the land saying here’s the playing field and if you come and propose projects, we’ll see according to that.”
The Rockland sector is at a crossroads given the uncertain future of shopping centres, Roy said. Cominar has announced plans to densify other malls it owns in the Montreal region with residential construction.
T.M.R.’s plan for the Rockland sector also includes an extension of Brittany Ave., a bike path and a shuttle service to transport residents to the future REM stations in T.M.R. CDPQ Infra Inc. is also building a REM station across from Rockland on the north side of the Met in St-Laurent borough. However, Roy said the Caisse de dépôt subsidiary hasn’t yet indicated whether and how T.M.R. residents will be able to get to it.
