Cité Midtown is being designed to be one of the first LEED ND projects in Quebec. Importance is placed on providing safe and comfortable pedestrian and cyclist connections throughout the neighbourhood and linking to the Du Collège Metro station. Residents of Cité Midtown will benefit from an extensive network of public and green spaces, publicly accessible pedestrian pathways, a pedestrian plaza with access to local services and amenities, a large new public park and abundant landscaping throughout. Additionally, a “shared street” that runs through the neighbourhood has been designed to allow for safe movement and a variety of activities. The project has also been designed to be energy and water efficient.

What is LEED ND?

LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that integrates smart growth, new urbanism and green building practices. It goes beyond the performance of individual buildings and recognizes exemplary projects for their sustainability by considering site location, urban design and building systems. LEED ND serves to broaden the scope of sustainability in development by addressing urban planning and urban design elements to maximize the sustainability of neighbourhoods.

LEED ND encourages the development of communities in well established urban settings with access to existing services and public transit. This approach to development helps reduce urban sprawl and the need to expand expensive infrastructure networks while also preserving natural areas. LEED ND certified neighbourhoods tend to be designed around the well being of its residents and they include walkable streets, public spaces and a variety of housing choices where residents of different ages can live, shop and interact.

Cité Midtown is targetting LEED ND Silver by including the following environmental features*:

Smart Location

  • Former industrial site that has been remediated and is now being reincorporated into the municipal context and will be using existing municipal infrastructure

  • Located near a planned bike network, and will include extensive bike parking, both inside and out

Neighbourhood Design

  • Pedestrian-oriented community with walkable streets, active building frontages and significant civic space

  • The development will contain a broad mix of unit types, as well as extensive planting and shading from trees

Green Infrastructure

  • Buildings will meet specified minimum energy performance and indoor water use requirements**

  • On site stormwater management, including extensive use of green roofs and permeable surfaces, to reduce the amount of stormwater that has to be managed
    off-site by way of municipal infrastructure

  • Reduction in the “heat island effect” by using high SRI materials on roofs and planting trees to provide shade