The city of Montreal announced Tuesday that it will demolish the empty low‑cost seniors’ housing block in the Parc‑Extension neighbourhood and rebuild a new structure, after nearly four years of vacancy made renovation unfeasible.
Seniors who once lived in the building were forced to leave when the municipality ordered extensive repairs. Since that evacuation, the four‑storey block has remained unoccupied, its windows boarded and its interior exposed to the elements. The prolonged emptiness prompted the municipal housing office to reassess the building’s future.
Officials from the municipal housing office concluded that restoring the aging structure would be impractical given the extent of deterioration accumulated during the years it stood idle. Instead, the office issued an order for demolition followed by the construction of a replacement low‑cost housing development intended to serve seniors once again.
The decision arrives amid ongoing concerns about affordable housing availability for Montreal’s aging population. While the vacant block has contributed to a visible gap in the neighbourhood’s housing stock, city planners view the demolition and subsequent rebuild as a chance to provide modern, safe accommodations that meet current standards for senior residents.
The demolition is set to begin later this year, with the new building slated to rise on the same site. The municipal housing office has not released a detailed timetable for the reconstruction, but it affirmed that the project will prioritize accessibility and affordability for seniors returning to the Parc‑Extension area.