Innovative Collaboration in Affordable Housing: The Triangle Nord Pointe-Saint-Charles Project

📅 Today 🏷️ Broccolini

A groundbreaking partnership between Broccolini and Bâtir son Quartier aims to create affordable housing through innovative collaboration and transparency in Montreal.

On November 4, 2025, the Rendez-vous de l’Habitation, organized by the Société d’habitation du Québec, featured a pivotal discussion that spotlighted a significant collaboration in the realm of affordable housing. Adam Martelli, Vice President of Residential Real Estate Development at Broccolini, and Yann Omer-Kassin, Development Coordinator at Bâtir son Quartier, presented the Triangle Nord Pointe-Saint-Charles project, which symbolizes an innovative union between private sector expertise and community engagement. This initiative is integral to the ongoing transformation of the Bridge–Bonaventure district, a historically industrial area situated in Montréal’s Sud-Ouest. The project is set to feature two twin towers that will provide nearly 800 rental units, with a notable inclusion of 376 affordable, non-market apartments. The inception of this ambitious project can be traced back to 2022, when the City of Montréal initiated the Chantier Montréal Abordable program aimed at rethinking affordable housing production. Co-chaired by Édith Cyr, Roger Plamondon (the outgoing President of Broccolini), and Mayor Benoit Dorais, this initiative fostered collaboration among various stakeholders who aimed to generate innovative ideas and establish a common understanding of their objectives. Édith Cyr explained that this environment nurtured a relationship of trust between Broccolini and Bâtir son Quartier, emphasizing their shared mission to provide housing for families efficiently and affordably without sacrificing quality. The collaboration was further strengthened with the inclusion of Point Commun, a non-profit organization based in the same area, which became a vital partner in this endeavor. Adam Martelli highlighted that the foundation of their success was built on transparency. He noted, “We began by acknowledging our respective strengths and limitations. Broccolini brings expertise in design-build execution and in cost and schedule management, while Bâtir son Quartier contributes its deep understanding of public programs and social and community structuring.” This open-book collaboration strategy allowed for the sharing of data, risks, and decision-making processes, which ultimately fostered trust and eliminated redundancies in budgeting. Martelli pointed out that such a fluid operation is rare in public-private partnerships. The project is poised to maximize the impact of public funds, with projected costs around $130 million. It combines various financing sources, including federal, provincial, and municipal funding, as well as patient capital and institutional loans, all woven into a cross-leveraged financial structure aimed at maximizing the number of affordable units per dollar spent. The design plan incorporates 20 storeys with vertically stacked typologies and shared infrastructure, ensuring that the average cost per affordable unit meets the target subsidy of $100,000 per unit while adhering to sustainable architectural standards. Construction for the non-market housing component is scheduled to commence in the summer of 2026, with an expected completion date in the fall of 2028. Furthermore, the panel discussion underscored a governance model centered on transparency and collaboration that could serve as a blueprint for future partnerships. Martelli concluded that “Every public dollar can go further when stakeholders share their information and objectives from the outset.” The Triangle Nord Pointe-Saint-Charles project exemplifies how affordable housing can be achieved through collaboration and a focus on results, rather than recognition, providing a significant contribution to creating a more inclusive urban environment in Montreal.

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