Press Releases
WORKSITES PROGRESS ON ALL THREE POLES!
27 May 2010
Baie-Saint-Paul, May 28 2010 – Last night, Groupe Le Massif met with Charlevoix’s leading municipal, tourist, economic and political representatives at its latest Project Management Office (PMO) meeting. Le Massif de Charlevoix’s management team drew a positive portrait of the timely progress of worksites located on all three development poles, namely The Mountain, The Farm and The Train.
“The purpose of this meeting is to put forth progress reports on current worksites, so that chief regional players may remain informed of the steps completed to date, and of any upcoming completion phases on both the short and the long term,” announced straightaway Jacques Lévesque, vice-president of Public Affairs & Special Projects at Groupe Le Massif.
A Mountain under Development
On-mountain project manager Marilyne Tremblay started by presenting research results completed by Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd., who have been entrusted with the creation of a master plan encompassing development pertaining to skiable terrain. The overall concept makes way for a 30% increase in skiable terrain, new infrastructures and lifts, as well a 10-kimometre family sled run to be implemented over the years to come.
“Integration of a gondola, beginner area and two lifts serving this same sector, four new trails as well as the expansion of the off-piste sector will commence within a few weeks. Land surveys have been conducted on future trail and gondola sites, and Doppelmayr has guaranteed timely turn-key lift delivery” specified Tremblay. Work will progress at a continuous rate over the months to come, to offer this full line-up of new installations by December 2010.
As well, the firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, mandated to create a master plan for The Mountain pole, is pursuing its reflection on designs for lodging units (inn, chalets, loft-apartments and signature homes), a public square, boutiques, restaurants and cafés, along with public infrastructures comprised of a train station, terraces and promenades, a gondola and spa concept. Project plans are expected to be submitted by the end of July, with a public announcement delivered in the fall to determine subsequent work phases, as well as commencement and delivery dates.
All Aboard by Summer 2011
Since mid-April, the firms Morelli Designers and Le Centre de réalisation d’outils innovateurs Inc. (CROI) have handled the restoration of the touring train wagons, converting them into genuine experiential railcars. Once their make-over is complete, the convoy’s eight railcars will convey approximately 550 passengers.
In parallel, the railway track rehabilitation program which was initiated last fall in some 21 municipalities comprised between Québec City and Clermont resumed in May, in the Beaupré sector. Services ferroviaires Sema Inc. foresees the completion of track rehabilitation by early Winter 2010, making way for the train and rail shuttle to be put into service by Summer 2011. In the meantime, the consultation process conducted with the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) in regards to embankment rip rap on 13 sections of railway line remains ongoing.
A prevention and awareness program linked to railway safety will also be pushed to the forefront, to sensitize the population about track safety and the dangers of intrusions onto its territory.
Pavilion Concept & Design for The Farm Pole
The architects mandated to review the master plan for The Farm pole have been busy over the past few weeks refining the new approach proposed to Groupe Le Massif. “A new pavilion concept and design were presented to us by a consortium formed by the firms Lemay Michaud Architecture Design, St-Gelais Montminy et Associés Architectes, Hudon Julien Associés and François Courville” disclosed yesterday the president and CEO of Groupe Le Massif, Daniel Gauthier.
Concurrent to these proceedings, the developer’s team has made headway with the plan’s feasibility evaluations and studies, ensuring it embodies the vision for this specific development pole. Once the feasibility studies have been finalized, a public announcement will follow before late September. Deadlines are also under management scrutiny, and the delivery date for the hotel has been granted a 6-month extension, now aiming for December 2011.
Le Massif de Charlevoix
Le Massif de Charlevoix is a tourism and recreation project representing a $230M investment. Beyond Le Massif Ski Area, this original project spans from Baie-Saint-Paul to Petite-Rivière-Saint-François in the Charlevoix. Among other features, the on-territory offer includes a touring train and rail shuttle, lodging units of which a 150-room hotel, as well as a multifunctional venue. The site is destined to become a genuine experiential laboratory focused on tourism.
Sources & Information:
Isabelle Vallée, Public Relations – Groupe Le Massif
418-932-4023 / ivallee@lemassif.com
