In order to create an offer more in line with the needs of local residents, Quartier D is looking to expand the categories of businesses on Décarie Boulevard. In the long term, along with more retail, we also hope that the artery will fill with lively, entertaining spaces for people to enjoy.
For many people, Décarie Boulevard is synonymous with a busy, congested highway that they are forced to use to get around on a daily basis. Yet Boulevard Décarie, in Old Saint-Laurent, is a magnificent and somewhat hidden commercial artery that is worth discovering.
In order to change this perception and make the area a sought-after destination, the Quartier D business development corporation (SDC), is in full brainstorming and planning mode.
“The goal of an SDC is not just to attract stores to empty spaces,” explains Gil Favreau, the new general manager of Quartier D. “In our case, we want to create a place where people come to buy things, of course, but also where they go out to eat, drink, attend shows, etc.”
In order to achieve this objective, the new leader is currently conducting a series of meetings with various stakeholders in the Décarie Nord area: surrounding schools and CEGEPs, community groups and NPOs, etc. The meetings are intended not only to learn about their needs, but also to see whether any kind of collaboration, even temporary, might emerge. “Offering grants to university design students to take charge of updating businesses is the kind of partnership we might consider in this context,” says Gil Favreau.
The importance of data
Mr. Favreau recognizes that solutions will come from several sources following his discussions with groups that, at first glance, have little to do with a street that revolves around shopping. “To achieve both social and commercial vitality, we must have the data to make relevant and informed decisions. In terms of commercial arteries, you can't duplicate a model seen elsewhere, then think that a Starbucks or Jean Coutu will magically appear.”
This project goes much deeper than simply applying a facelift through renovations. “The goal is not to create a new image and visually define our territory with banners, but to create a neighbourhood with lively spaces and entertainment.”
With a vacancy rate fluctuating around 10%, Décarie Boulevard is around the Montréal average in this respect. The issue is not so much vacancy as the variety among the group of merchants on the street. “On Décarie, there is a high-volume of “service” type businesses while retail trade is more understated,” says Sébastien Boirié, Director, Business Development, PME MTL Centre-Ouest.
Building on existing strengths
For the strategist, retail offerings need to be expanded in order to meet the expectations of local residents. “What we want to avoid is people taking their cars to the suburbs to shop. And the solution lies in commercial diversity. For example, we could have an organic grocery store, a florist or a more upscale breakfast restaurant.”
With more retail stores and restaurants, Décarie wants to position itself as a commercial shopping centre, where people can meet, have fun and shop close to home.
In this regard, our specialist points out certain attributes specific to the area.
First of all, unlike large shopping malls, whose space is owned by a single owner, the spaces on Décarie – like many other commercial arteries in Montréal – are held by several owners who often have a local base, which helps when it comes to working on innovative projects. In addition, it is a street where it is relatively easy to park, which is a rare thing. Finally, because the buildings are not designed with apartments or family dwellings on the upper floors, it would be possible welcome businesses that are more active during evening hours, such as microbreweries or pubs.
In September of 2019, a competition was launched to award grants of up to $25,000 to potential shopkeepers who would like to open a store in the area. This grant is also available for existing merchants who would like to update their shops. “We already have a built environment, which is huge. It is now up to us to make it lively and dynamic,” concludes Gil Favreau.
SDC Quartier D works in collaboration with PME MTL Centre-Ouest to support Décarie Nord's commercial development.