The City of Montreal is seeking a developer to help it convert a former downtown bus depot into 700 housing units.

City officials announced Friday that a request for proposals will be issued in coming weeks and the successful bidder will be chosen by fall 2024.

Plans call for at least 20% of the units to be affordable housing and at least another 20% to be family homes. The development is also slated to include commercial and community spaces.

The city purchased the Îlot Voyageur Sud site for $18 million in 2018. The property, which has been vacant for several years, is near the Berri-UQAM Metro station, University of Quebec in Montreal, CÉGEP du Vieux-Montréal (a community college i the Old Montreal district), the Grande Bibliothèque (a major library), and Émilie-Gamelin place. 

“The Îlot Voyageur redevelopment project will contribute directly to combating [the] housing crisis, while revitalizing a key area of downtown, close to the Village and the Latin Quarter,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante told reporters.