The Cavendish Extension is Key to the Success of any Hippodrome Housing Project

Montreal, Quebec, September 15, 2025 — Mayor Mitchell Brownstein of the City of Côte Saint-Luc, Mayor Peter Malouf of the Town of Mount Royal, and Mayor Alan DeSousa of Saint-Laurent issued the following statement today in response to the announcement of funding by the governments of Canada and Quebec for the Quartier Namur-Hippodrome. 

As mayors of the City of Côte Saint-Luc, the Town of Mount-Royal and the Borough of Saint-Laurent, we applaud and support the funding for infrastructure offered by the federal and provincial governments for a housing project on the Hippodrome land. However, it is our firm belief and conviction that in order for this project to be a success, the full north-south Cavendish extension must be included in the plan to redevelop the site. Failure to include the Cavendish extension would be an omission that would undermine the integrity, safety, and viability of the entire development. As was stated by the City of Montreal in its submission to the BAPE in 2022, the Cavendish extension is crucial to the development of the Quartier Namur-Hippodrome. 

More specifically, the Cavendish project will open up access to the site of the former Montreal Hippodrome, where the City plans to build the Namur–Hippodrome eco-district (QNH), a residential development of several thousand housing units. In fact, under the 2017 deed transferring the land from the provincial government to the City of Montreal, the City committed to including the Cavendish project in both the Agglomeration Transportation Plan and its three-year capital works program. The City also pledged to update the studies needed for the project’s implementation, confirming the crucial role this connection plays in the successful development of the QNH. 

The large housing development planned on the Hippodrome land is a project that impacts all the adjacent cities and boroughs. As such the Central City of Montreal and all neighbouring cities and boroughs must collaborate in the design of all road network associated with the development. 

Here are three critical reasons why the Cavendish extension must be prioritized in the development of the Hippodrome project: 

1. Economic Development 

The Cavendish extension is a cornerstone for unlocking the full economic potential of the Hippodrome site. It provides vital north-south connectivity, linking employment hubs and facilitating access for workers commuting from areas such as Lachine, LaSalle, and Saint-Laurent. The integration of rapid transit and active transportation infrastructure, including the Velo route, will allow residents to commute sustainably, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion. Without Cavendish, we risk isolating the development and stifling the economic growth it promises for the entire Namur De La Savane Sector. This was supported by business community in March 2024 in the Declaration of the Business Alliance for Cavendish. See press release here. 

2. Public Security 

Public safety must never be compromised. The Montreal Fire Department (SIM) has clearly stated that three access routes are required for emergency services to safely reach and evacuate the 20000 new homes to be built on the Hippodrome site. Currently, only two viable routes exist: Jean-Talon and Devonshire. The third route must connect westward through to the Cavendish corridor as was originally proposed in 2022. After 18 months of study by the consultants and engineers of the City of Montreal (since January 2024) no alternative option has proven feasible. Cavendish is not optional—it is a public safety necessity for the entire region as well as for the Hippodrome. We must remember that the Cavendish link was supported by Montreal SIM and all safety and security services as submitted in 2022. 

3. Urban Planning and Political Commitment 

The Hippodrome development is rooted in a 2017 agreement between the City of Montreal and the Quebec government. That agreement explicitly included the Cavendish extension as a foundational element of the Hippodrome project. The land was ceded by Quebec to Montreal for $1 in exchange for fulfilling one condition, the building of the Cavendish extension. 

To proceed without it, is to break faith with the principles of sound urban planning and to disregard the commitments made to all the communities that surround the project. It’s a project that is supported by all levels of elected officials, as was expressed throughout 2024. 

All levels of local elected leaders call for the completion of the Cavendish extension project. Members of Parliament, Members of the National Assembly, mayors and councillors demand that Quebec enforce the deal with Montreal. 

The extension is not just a road—it is a promise of connectivity, sustainability, and responsible development. 

Conclusion 

We cannot allow short-sighted decisions to jeopardize the future of one of Montreal’s most significant urban redevelopment projects. As the Cavendish extension is an important and necessary prerequisite for the success of the Hippodrome redevelopment: 

• We call on the City of Montreal to ensure that the Cavendish extension be integrated into the Namur-Hippodrome redevelopment project; 

• We call on all three levels of government to work together to ensure that the Cavendish extension is completed as part of the Namur-Hippodrome redevelopment project; 

• And we call on the Quebec government to insist that City of Montreal honour all its obligations under the 2017 agreement through which the land was ceded by Quebec to Montreal. 

For more information: Darryl Levine, communications@cotesaintluc.org, 514-485-8905 or media may contact Mayor Alan DeSousa of Saint Laurent, alan.desousa@montreal.ca.