City approves land lease for tree nursery

Summary#

Montréal city council approved a 24-month lease to the Société de verdissement du Montréal métropolitain (SOVERDI), starting May 1, 2026. The lease covers city land in the Namur-Hippodrome area of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough for a tree nursery and related storage; city staff say it supports the city’s greening goals.

  • The land area changes by period: 17,500 m² from May to December in each year, and 4,900 m² from January to April.
  • SOVERDI will pay $100 in rent, excluding sales taxes. The estimated real-estate subsidy is $329,600.
  • Either party may end the lease early with six months’ written notice.

What it means for you#

  • SOVERDI: May use the land to operate a transition nursery and store materials, equipment and trees. It must pay improvement costs, maintain the site, keep it fenced, and pay the property taxes described in the decision summary.
  • Nearby residents and the public: The decision does not directly change residents’ rights or services. Access to the site is from the Jean-Talon Street gate near Devonshire Road.
  • Taxpayers: The city approved a substantial below-market rental benefit. The decision does not approve a new cash grant or change SOVERDI’s separate funding arrangements.

Money#

The lease brings in $100 in rent before sales taxes; the estimated real-estate subsidy is $329,600.

  • The decision summary lists $5 in GST and $9.98 in QST, for total rent and sales taxes of $114.98.
  • SOVERDI pays for improvements, site maintenance and property taxes. The materials do not estimate those costs.

What is unclear#

  • The full lease terms are not included, so other conditions on use of the site are not clear.
  • The materials do not explain how the city calculated the estimated $329,600 subsidy beyond saying it used estimated rental value, the changing land areas and lease periods, and the $100 rent.

Case for#

  • City staff say the nursery supports tree planting and the city’s climate and nature plans.
  • Staff say SOVERDI would otherwise face unexpected rent and moving costs. The lease lets it continue using the site, while either party can end the lease with six months’ written notice.

Case against#

  • The $329,600 estimated subsidy is much larger than the $100 rent. A possible concern is that the materials do not compare this benefit with other uses for the land or explain why this rent level was chosen.