1. Origins and History: From Letters to Luxury

For decades, 700 Saint-Jacques was the beating heart of Montreal’s postal system.

This strategic site, located along the Ville-Marie Expressway, housed Canada Post's main sorting center before being left vacant.

In 2018, the Broccolini Group acquired the land for a record sum of $100 million, launching one of the most ambitious projects of the decade.

2. Structure and Dimensions

The project stands out for its complex engineering, particularly its base, which must support a 200-meter tower while respecting the historical alignment of the neighborhood.

• Total Height: 200 meters (58 stories above ground).

• Residential Units: 400 luxury condominiums (from studios to penthouses).

• Podium Surface Area: 10 floors including approximately 300,000 square feet of office and commercial space.

• Underground Parking: 5 levels, including electric vehicle charging stations.

3. The Podium: A Historical Anchor

The 10-story podium is the element that ensures the transition with the built heritage.

• Architectural Integration: Use of limestone and brick to echo the former Canada Post sorting center.

• Commercial Use: The first two levels are dedicated to retail and services (restaurants, shops) to energize neighborhood life.

• Office Space: Floors 3 to 10 offer modern Class A office layouts.

4. Amenities and Ecosystem

The "live, work, play" concept is supported by over 30,000 square feet of common areas:

• Pools: One indoor pool and one outdoor infinity pool located on the podium roof (10th floor).

• Fitness Space: Yoga center, sauna, and state-of-the-art gym.

• Leisure: Urban lounge with a demonstration kitchen, screening room, and landscaped terraces.

• The Park: A 45,000-square-foot public green space at the foot of the tower—a rarity in this dense sector.

5. Architecture and Urban Planning

The tower is characterized by its slender silhouette and its podium, which integrates elements of the historic façade of the former sorting center.

The development of a 45,000-square-foot park at the base provides a breath of fresh air in a highly mineralized sector, creating a meeting space for citizens.

6. Project Stakeholders

• Owner and Developer: Broccolini.

• Builder: Broccolini Construction.

• Architects: IBI Group and Béïque Legault Thuot Architectes (BLTA).

• Interior Design: BlazysGérard.

• Major Commercial Tenant: National Bank of Canada (whose new adjacent headquarters is integrated into the overall vision of the site).

7. Technical Specifications and Timeline

The project is notable for its dizzying height of 200 meters, making it one of the ten tallest structures in the city.

• Units: Approximately 400 luxury residential units.

• Mixed Use: 10 floors dedicated to commercial and office spaces (the "podium").

• Timeline: Launched in 2018, the project completed its structure in 2023, with final deliveries and full occupancy spanning 2024–2026.

8. Economic and Budgetary Data

• Total Investment: Estimated at $1.2 billion (including the entire complex).

• Unit Prices: At launch, prices ranged from $400,000 for studios to over $5 million for penthouses.

• Financial Assistance: Although a private development, it benefits indirectly from municipal investments in the redevelopment of Square Victoria.

• Tax Impact: Once completed, Victoria sur le Parc will generate estimated annual property tax revenues of several million dollars for the City of Montreal.

9. Social Impact and Connectivity

The building is not an isolated island; it is a transportation hub:

• RÉSO Connection: Direct access to the underground network, allowing users to reach the Square-Victoria-OACI metro station without going outside.

• Traffic Statistics: With the addition of National Bank employees and residents, an increase of 10,000 to 15,000 people per day is expected in an area that was previously deserted on evenings and weekends.

• Social Impact: The creation of a "public square" through the privately owned, publicly accessible park promotes a mix of residents, workers, and tourists.

• Urban Density: The project maximizes the use of previously underutilized land (former parking and sorting center) without urban sprawl.

• Community Contribution: The developer contributed to the city's Affordable Housing Fund (via the By-law for a Diverse Metropolis), injecting funds to offset the absence of social housing on the site itself.

Victoria sur le Parc is more than just a building; it is the pivot that completes the seam between the financial district and Old Montreal.

Its commercial success, despite the pandemic, demonstrates the resilient appeal of the city center.