1. Lachine: The Project of the Century (Lachine-East)

Lachine receives the lion's share of pure development investments as the borough prepares the ground for the Lachine-East eco-district.

• Budget and Infrastructure ($38.5M in 2026):

  • $32M is allocated this year for the construction of underground infrastructure (aqueducts, sewers, retention basins) necessary to support the future 4,000 housing units.

  • $6.5M for the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame sector and securing pedestrian crossings towards the waterfront.

• Economic Impact: The City estimates that these infrastructure works will unlock private investments valued at $2.4 billion over 10 years.

• Social Impact: The urban plan imposes strict mixed-use requirements. On the Lachine-East site, 1,200 units will be reserved for social and affordable housing, a direct response to the housing crisis affecting middle-class families.

2. LaSalle: Culture, Sport, and Biodiversity

The borough is banking on quality of life to retain families, with a major focus on collective facilities.

• Budget and Infrastructure ($24.2M in 2026):

  • $15M dedicated to the major renovation of the Jacques-Lemaire Sports Centre and local arenas, converting refrigeration systems to ecological standards (CO2).

  • $4M for the stabilization of the Parc des Rapides riverbanks, threatened by increased erosion due to spring flooding.

• Attendance Statistics: Parc des Rapides and Parc Angrignon now welcome over 2.1 million combined visitors annually. This human pressure justifies the 15% increase in the green space maintenance budget.

• Sustainable Development: Creation of a biodiversity corridor linking Parc Angrignon to the river, a pilot project valued at $1.2M to reduce heat islands in the converting industrial sector.

3. Verdun: Life After Wellington and Resilience

After revitalizing its commercial artery (voted "coolest street in the world" in 2020), Verdun is investing in the longevity of its public infrastructure.

• Budget and Infrastructure ($29M in 2026):

  • $12M for the finalization of exterior landscaping around the Verdun Auditorium and Arthur-Therrien Park, including "urban beach" relaxation zones.

  • $8M for the green alleyway program and the creation of "sponge streets" (draining green infrastructure) to counter flooding during torrential rains.

• Economic Impact: The commercial vacancy rate on Wellington Street remains under 3%, a record for Montreal. Public investments aim to maintain this foot traffic, which generates crucial commercial property tax revenues for the borough.

• Neighborhood Life: A participatory budget of $500,000 is renewed, allowing citizens to directly decide on micro-projects (urban furniture, greening).

4. Le Sud-Ouest: Completing Griffintown

The Sud-Ouest borough must manage infrastructure catch-up in Griffintown while maintaining services in historic neighborhoods like Pointe-Saint-Charles.

• Budget and Infrastructure ($31M in 2026):

  • $18M is finally unlocked for the complete development of Mary-Griffin Park and adjacent retention basins. This is the most anticipated project by residents in the sector.

  • $7M for the rehabilitation of community buildings in Saint-Henri, ensuring that gentrification does not displace aid organizations.

• Social Impact and Demographics: Griffintown's population has quintupled in 15 years. The 2026 budget funds the addition of two new safe crossings to the Lachine Canal, used by 5,000 cyclists per day in summer.

• Housing Budget: The borough is exercising its right of pre-emption on two strategic lots (reserved budget of $4M) to guarantee the future construction of housing cooperatives.

  
  

  Summary Table: 2026 Capital Works Distribution (Selection)

Seen from the sky, the transformation is striking. Our drone flyovers confirm that white and green roofs are becoming the norm on new constructions in Lachine and the Sud-Ouest, a requirement now integrated into construction permits funded by these budgets.

The planned "green network" visually connects the four boroughs along the river, creating a nearly uninterrupted linear park of over 15 kilometers.