La Pocatière: Quebec Town Experiencing Unprecedented Housing Boom
- La Pocatière, Quebec – Despite its small population of 6,344 following a recent merger, La Pocatière is experiencing an unprecedented real estate boom.
- Conservative MP for the sector, Bernard Généreux, had stated a few days prior that there had been no housing construction in the municipality for over 50 years.
- “Currently, You'll see about forty new units built or under construction.
La Pocatière, Quebec – Despite its small population of 6,344 following a recent merger, La Pocatière is experiencing an unprecedented real estate boom. The last residential constructions in this small municipality in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region date back more than 20 years. “And those were just a few constructions, like semi-detached homes, for example,” explains Mayor Vincent Bérubé, speaking from city hall earlier this week.
Conservative MP for the sector, Bernard Généreux, had stated a few days prior that there had been no housing construction in the municipality for over 50 years.
“It’s true that it’s been a very long time. We can say things are going well!” the mayor rejoices. “Currently, You’ll see about forty new units built or under construction. And we’ve built a new street to accommodate future constructions.”
A significant real estate project is also in the works, at the heart of the municipality. A building of five to six stories, containing 240 units, is currently on the drawing board. The developer is awaiting the necessary permits from the municipality and the MRC to begin construction.
“On our side, at the City, the legal steps have been taken,” emphasizes Bérubé. A public consultation was held in mid-January.
The file is currently being validated by the Kamouraska MRC.
Vincent Bérubé believes that the construction, which will take place in three phases, could begin in early summer.
The building will offer 25% affordable housing, but also middle and high-end units.
“It’s really the diversification of housing supply that was needed,” emphasizes Bérubé.
More Stable Jobs
But what explains “the success” of La Pocatière, despite its small size?
“We are still a city-center, serving a population of around 12,000 people,” specifies Vincent Bérubé, referring to the small municipalities of Kamouraska.
“I think the presence of Alstom [formerly Bombardier] and the fact that the factory provides more job security plays a role in this. There are still between 600 and 700 jobs here. Previously, these were often jobs that came and went, workers were less likely to settle, which is no longer the case today,” explains the mayor.
“La Pocatière is a hidden gem looking to stand out,” says the mayor, who began his second term in the fall, a few months after the merger with Saint-Onésime-d’Ixworth and Sainte-Anne-de-La-Pocatière.
La Pocatière has therefore gone from about 4,200 inhabitants to 6,400. Up to 800 students must be added to this number, which is not calculated in the population.
New Businesses
In addition to these real estate projects, a few businesses have also opened their doors in recent months, such as a children’s amusement center and a pet store. The Maxi also settled there in recent years to replace the IGA which had closed.
“We are still a bit recognized as a highway stop, people stop to fill up and buy a coffee. But when you go up the hill, you can see that the city has a lot to offer!” emphasizes the mayor.