Summary#
Montréal city council approved extending the City’s lease to Coopérative de solidarité Polliflora for two years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028. The lease covers seasonal plots at the former Hippodrome site in the Namur-Hippodrome area of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, for a temporary urban-agriculture project. City staff say the extension would let Polliflora continue its activities on land not needed for municipal purposes.
- The summer plot is 2,929.10 square metres; the winter plot is 44 square metres.
- The total rent is $200, excluding taxes. The estimated real-estate subsidy (the estimated value of the occupancy provided beyond the rent) is $72,442.
- The City may end the lease with three months’ notice if the site is redeveloped.
- Polliflora must pay all site-improvement and maintenance costs, and any property taxes that apply.
What it means for you#
- Polliflora: The cooperative can use the plots for the temporary project during the two-year term, subject to the lease terms and the City’s right to end the lease if the site is redeveloped.
- Residents and taxpayers: The decision does not directly change taxes, services, or residents’ rights. The City is making land available at a rent far below its estimated rental value.
Money#
The lease brings in $200 in rent before taxes; the decision estimates a $72,442 real-estate subsidy.
- The financial table lists total rent of $229.95 including taxes.
- The $72,442 estimate is the value of the subsidized occupancy, not a stated cash payment to Polliflora.
- Polliflora bears site-improvement and maintenance costs, and any property taxes that apply.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not describe the project’s detailed activities or set out measures for assessing its results.
- The lease may end before March 31, 2028, if the City gives three months’ notice because of redevelopment.
- No renewal option beyond the two-year extension is stated.
Case for#
- City staff say the land is not needed for municipal purposes, so leasing it allows its use during the term.
- The extension lets Polliflora continue its activities without the City taking on the site-improvement or maintenance costs, which fall to the cooperative.
Case against#
- The City provides an estimated $72,442 in real-estate subsidy for $200 in rent before taxes; a possible trade-off is less rental income for the City.
- The lease may end early if the site is redeveloped, which limits how certain the full two-year term is for Polliflora.