Vanishing Montreal

Landmark depanneur on Ste-Emilie and Bourget - Saint-Henri

2012-03-05T13:52:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This depanneur on the corner of Ste-Emilie and Bourget is (or was) one of the most recognizable landmarks in Saint-Henri but even with that recognition it wasn't enough to save it and the building from demolition. No outcry or anything. Pretty sad. I took the top photo back in June of 2008.

New construction on Turgeon & St-Ambroise - Saint-Henri

2012-03-05T13:12:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

New construction on the corner of Turgeon and St-Ambroise in Saint-Henri. Nothing much to report as the new construction has been built on an empty lot/yard. The two top photos are before, taken last fall, and the two bottom photos are current.

Update: Maurice Boyer Pro Shop - Verdun

2012-02-27T13:26:00.002-05:00

Over a year ago I posted (here and here) about a new condo project replacing the Maurice Boyer Pro Shop on Bannantyne street near De L'Eglise in Verdun. Here are some some photos of the ongoing construction.

Update: L7 Condo - Verdun

2012-02-27T13:13:00.001-05:00

Nearly 2 months ago I posted about a Used car sales business that closed back in the summer of 2011 in Verdun. I was in the area recently and saw this billboard announcing the new condo project that will be built there.

Before & After on Denonville st - Côte-Saint-Paul

2012-02-17T15:06:00.003-05:00

Before and after of a small duplex, now triplex, on Denonville in Côte-St-Paul. Above, image provided by Google Streetview, shows how the building was in 2009. Someone renovated it, divided the single unit on the second floor into two and generally made the whole thing much more beautiful. Great job. Photo below was taken last summer.

Abandoned building on de Laprairie - Pointe-St-Charles

2012-02-17T14:41:00.003-05:00

This building on de Laprairie near Augustin Cantin in Pointe-St-Charles has been abandoned since forever. I remember it was abandoned back in the mid-1990s. The Waseskun halfway house for Aboriginal criminals was located there before they moved in the top floor of the old Guarda building in Saint-Henri on rue St-Jacques, which was closed at that location a decade ago. The halfway house is now situated in the town of Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez. And yet the building still looks pretty solid. I love these red brick buildings.

New condos on Augustin Cantin - Pointe-St-Charles

2012-02-17T14:21:00.004-05:00

New condo project on Augustin Cantin in Pointe-St-Charles. Yes, this is a new condo building.

I saw the start of the construction last summer but didn't take any photos. So I decided to go back and see how it was progressing. When I was there I had a difficult time finding the "new" condo because where the "new" condo should be there's this old looking thing in its place. And then I realized "Hey, this is the new condo project." Yikes. There are tons of ugly apartment buildings that look like this in the area but they were built in the 1980s!!! Pretty sad when the old garage that used to be there was less of an eyesore. Oh well...

(image above & below: google streetview)

Update: Mac Clinic/New Condo - Pointe-St-Charles

2012-02-09T15:26:00.003-05:00

As reported back in July 2011 (link), the location of the old Mac Clinic building (last image) on the corner of Centre and De Conde in Pointe-St-Charles was the construction site for a new condo building last summer (below) which is now pretty much completed (above).

(image: google streetview)

Update: Seracon building gone - Pointe-St-Charles

2012-02-09T15:19:00.000-05:00

The Seracon building on St-Patrick street in Pointe-St-Charles is no more. As posted here back in July 2011 (link) it stood empty and abandoned for many years, caught in some sort of legal quagmire. I took these photos 2 weeks ago.

Update: Red brick building/St-Ann condo project - Griffintown

2012-02-09T15:10:00.004-05:00

As already mentioned before at VM back in July 2011 here and October 2011 here demolition of the wide building next to St-Ann park in Griffintown has begun. The third photo shows when it started and the top two photos were taken two weeks ago. The two last photos were taken last summer.

Update: Le Silhouette condos on De La Commune - Old Montreal

2012-02-07T16:30:00.012-05:00

As mentioned before here at Vanishing Montreal back in August 2011 (link) the building at the corner of De La Commune and Prince will be demolished. I was skeptical about the old stone building being part of the new project but when the banners for Le Silhouette appeared around it I thought "oh no". Well the old greystone building won't be demolished so skepticism is still intact. Phew. The banners on the old building are for the condo complex where the Nurun building is just across the street. I double checked the address for Le Silhouette and it's 711 which is the address for the building in the photo above and below. I already took photos of the Nurun building last summer as I was told then it would be demolished. So here's the update on the update.

The banners below are for the Nurun building across the street as seen above.

Elevated Parking on St-Maurice - Old Montreal

2012-02-07T15:30:00.002-05:00

Old elevated parking lot rue St-Maurice near McGill street in Old Montreal is being transformed into a luxurious condo building. Not a great loss but red brick buildings are an endangered species in downtown Montreal or the general area which is a shame because I love them. But this one is not particularly memorable though.

Small Houses of Montreal

2012-01-24T18:45:00.001-05:00

A collection of small houses seen around Montreal, mostly in Verdun, Saint-Henri, Cote-Saint-Paul, Ville-Emard and Griffintown. The last house is in Hochelaga Maisonneuve.

In the current real estate climate, these small houses are disappearing quickly.

Summer 2011

2012-01-24T18:15:00.001-05:00

As we're halfway through winter here are some random photos I took during the summer of 2011.

Industrial park on Joseph Guibord - Saint-Michel

2012-01-17T15:55:00.001-05:00

Regular VM contributor Denis Heraud send me this series of photos of a massive Industrial park that's abandoned/closed and was set to be demolished as part of the 2025/carrière Sain-Michel project but according to La Presse the project as been shelved for now. I wasn't aware that the 2025 project extended all the way to Saint-Michel. Lady Sandra and Electroline Equipment Inc were based there. According to Denis, Electroline Equipment Inc are now located in Ville Saint-laurent.

Here's a link to a PDF file of the now shelved project.

The question is: if the project is cancelled or shelved indefinitely then what will they do with the sizable piece of real estate?

Amazing job Denis!

The image above is from the PDF file showing what the carrière Sain-Michel project would have looked and in red is where the industrial park was. The image below is from Google Maps and again in red is the abandoned industrial park area.

Clinique Médicale de L'Ouest - Verdun

2012-01-07T18:38:00.001-05:00

One day, the building that once housed the Clinique Médicale de L'Ouest on Verdun st in Verdun was there and the next day, the building was completely gone. Ok, I'm exaggerating but this is one of the fattest demolitions I've ever witnessed. The Clinique had been there for decades but they relocated on Bannantyne street a few years ago and the building had been empty for some time but wow, they really wanted this building to be gone.

Vanishing small house on Galt st - Verdun

2012-01-07T18:27:00.001-05:00

A small house was demolished on Galt street in Verdun. The house next to it was for sale and was sold (last photo)...so I don't know if they'll demolish that one too.

(image above: google streetview)

Car sales building - Verdun

2012-01-03T14:43:00.002-05:00

The structure above was one part of three structures for a Volkswagen auto sales business on Verdun street in Verdun. The Volkswagen business closed a long time ago and all three structures have been empty/abandoned since the closure. I recently passed by there and these days there's a used car business located in the main building (not pictured) but one the other two structures, pictured above, was demolished (below).

The second structure, a garage for the former Volkswagen business seen in the last photo, is still empty. That photo was taken in the summer of 2010.

Used car business closed - Verdun

2012-01-03T14:36:00.001-05:00

This used car business closed late last summer. It's situated on Blvd Lasalle in Verdun. I haven't been there since the time I took the photos so I don't know what's going on but it's most likely going to be replaced by some new condo project.

Reno/reconstruction on Strathmore - Verdun

2012-01-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

The dilapidated house (below) was being replaced or renovated on Strathmore street in Verdun. I'll check out soon to see if it's completed but I sorta liked the unfinished new look.

Solar panel behind former carwash - Verdun

2012-01-03T14:09:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of the solar panel structure I mentioned a few months ago (link).

Old triplex + Horse Palace on Ottawa st - Griffintown

2011-12-16T16:37:00.004-05:00

This 19th-century triplex and the adjoining stables, called the Horse Palace, on Ottawa street in Griffintown were recently in the news because it's up for sale and its future is uncertain. The asking price for the triplex and yard/stables is $1 million, which almost seals its fate unless someone who's wealthy and loves Montreal history buys it and keeps it as it is.

As the 5th photo shows, it's been for sale since this summer when I took those photos so why it's making news now is a bit odd. Most likely because the owners are retiring to Nun's Island. This section is the soul of Griffintown and if they demolish it they might as well demolish everything else in that district. As noted in the SCRAPPED text below "The Horse Palace has been a continuously functioning stable for 150 years."

I've been taking photos of this area for the past 6 or 7 years now and have TONS of photos of this specific house. I even took pictures at night with my 35mm camera (above and below), which are some of my favorite photos in my portfolio.

I've already reported on this and re-posting the photos with horses/ponies, which were taken in 2010.

Before & After on Ottawa and De La Montagne - Griffintown

2011-12-10T23:24:00.003-05:00

Before

I've already wrote about this construction project (here) but forgot I had these old before photos. This is the business that was on the corner of Ottawa and De La Montagne. Once the project is completed I'll post an entire Before & After.

Previous post about this corner - link

Before - During demolition

After - taken this past summer

Before and After on Murray and Ottawa - Griffintown

2011-12-10T23:13:00.003-05:00

Before - fall 2010

Before and after on the corner of Murray and Ottawa in Griffintown. I have so many photos, I forgot these before ones. I'll post a complete before and after once I return to Griffintown and see the completed project.

Here's my previous post about this - link

After - summer 2011

ETS building - Griffintown

2011-12-10T23:06:00.000-05:00

Construction of the new ETS dorm in Griffintown. The top two photos were taken at the beginning of last summer and the two last in mid-summer.

Sidbec caisse - Ville-Émard

2011-12-10T22:59:00.002-05:00

This used to be the paycheck/caisse building of the Sidbec factory on Hamilton street in Ville-Émard

NCC - Little Burgundy

2011-12-04T16:27:00.000-05:00

The Negro Community Center in Little Burgundy is about to get a facelift if they find the funds for it. They want to add an addition to the already existing but aging center. They also want to repair part of the already existing structure.

Greystone on du Fort st - Downtown Montreal

2011-12-04T16:10:00.002-05:00

Condo project on du Fort street in downtown Montreal. I don't know exactly what the project was supposed to be once completed but very little of the former building remains. Just the bottom facade. I doubt they'll be able to reconstruct the same facade brick by brick after removing it.

(image above: google streetview)

CCQ building - Ahuntsic

2011-12-04T15:22:00.001-05:00

The new CCQ (Commission de la construction du Québec) on blvd Cremazie in Ahuntsic. The older building next to the big one (as seen in the second to last image from google streetview) got a facelift. The big building, which is quite nice, was built on a parking lot.

Buildings next to Metropolitan Expressway - Saint-Michel

2011-12-04T14:15:00.000-05:00

The series of buildings next to the Metropolitan in Sain-Michel are some of the biggest eyesores in the city. Some of them are still in use while two of them are abandoned and possible major fire hazard. They've been like this for decades. The first building (above and below) looks like it's still occupied even though it's in disrepair. After that, it's the shiny looking Depotium. The two buildings after the self-stockage building are abandoned, with broken windows on each floor, easy access to inside. Quite amazing.

There's a message on the fourth building from the city granting the right to "transform" the building. It was made on 04-05-11. I guess no one has picked up the option.

These buildings are like the last examples of manufacturing era still standing and defiant to the current boom going all around. Once they're transformed/changed/demolished, I'll know only then that the city has entered a new era.

Photo Essay

2011-11-25T02:55:00.000-05:00

Un nouveau projet de l’ONF, en collaboration avec le Journal Le Devoir.

Le projet sera lancé officiellement ce samedi. Il s’agit d’un essai photo de Tristan Fortin Le Breton, avec François Turcotte et Julien Roy, sur l’impact des nouveaux paysages urbains (banlieues, méga-centres commerciaux) dans notre environnement. Un témoignage du temps qui passe et de la place de la consommation dans l’occupation du territoire.

« À l’origine, le projet consistait à représenter, avec un procédé photographique ancien, des friches, des terrains vagues et des boisés en marge d’ensembles urbains récents. Ces lieux sans vocation définie avaient pour moi une grande poésie que la pression d’un développement imminent leur conférait.

Parfois dix ans plus tard, je suis retourné sur les mêmes lieux. J’ai laissé ma caméra grand format cerner la réalité de ces étalements architecturaux nés de l’appétit du capital. Ces espaces génériques, paysages limitrophes, expriment notre prospérité. Développés pour répondre aux besoins immédiats, ils témoignent de l'idéologie d’une croissance économique à tous crins. »

- Tristan Fortin le Breton, photographe

Pour plus d'information contactez:

Emilie Nguyen Ngoc
Office national du film du Canada | National Film Board of Canada
514-496-0836 | 3155, Côte-de-Liesse, Montréal, QC H4N 2N4

Condos on Leonard de Vinci - Francois-Perrault

2011-11-22T15:10:00.003-05:00

This super bland new condo project was built in the parking lot of the former business that was on 18th ave (see post below). It's on Leonard de Vinci in the Francois-Perrault district. It's a fairly big piece of land and the project was ongoing when I was there last August. Most of the units were empty, with just a few looking like they were occupied.

(image above: google streetview)

The land of the former business was fairly big, at least 2/3s of the block. The building with the question mark is the one in the post below.

Demolished business on 18th ave - Francois-Perrault

2011-11-22T14:55:00.005-05:00

The building in the image below, from Google Streetview, is gone, demolished, as seen in the image above which I took last August. It was situated on 18th ave in the Francois-Perrault district. The business overlapped unto Leonard de Vinci ave which, as the post above shows, condos have already been built there (you can see the back of the condos in the first picture). I decided to do two separate posts for each individual streets but they're basically the same project.

When I was there last August, the building/house above, located just next to the empty lot on 18th ave, was still there but looked abandoned. I don't know if was going to be demolished or not

Garage on Jarry and Leonard de Vinci - Saint-Michel

2011-11-22T14:28:00.001-05:00

This garage on Jarry and avenue Leonard de Vinci in Saint-Michel has been closed for some time and regular VM contributor Denis Heraud took some pictures. I checked google maps and the garage was closed back then so it's been abandoned for some time now. A billboard shows a new development that will be built there. I was on Leonard de Vinci avenue last August and I missed it so I'm glad Denis noticed it.

Thanks Denis. Great stuff!

The Changing Face of Saint-Henri - Completed coverage

2011-11-16T21:30:00.005-05:00

So this ends, for now, the massive changes going on in Saint-Henri. Whether it's a good thing or not well only time will tell. There are a couple of places I didn't include and might in the future. I also have to do updates on a few places, such as the new construction on Turcot st. I have such a huge backlog of photos and stuff that it's time to move on to new areas, neighborhoods, districts.

To view all the posts, just click on the link above for the permanent page dedicated to the subject.

Red dots are new projects, in progress or completed or announced; orange dots are abandoned, condemned or burned down buildings

01 - Turcot Interchange - to be demolished
02 - Multiple new condo projects on Philippe-Lalonde (part 1) - partially completed; still constructing
03 - New block-wide condo project on St-Ambroise (part 2) - completed
04 - Block-wide condo project on St-Ambroise (part 3) - completed
05 - Condemned building on Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul and rue Sainte-Marie
06 - Condemned building on Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul and rue Sainte-Clotilde
07 - Abandoned/renovated house on Bourassa and Turcot - recently renovated
08 - Condemned building on Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul
09 - Rundown former Molson Bank; the interior is apparently used as a storage place but the exterior is rundown
10 - Abandoned small house on Turcot
11 - Abandoned small house on Turcot; to be demolished for new condos - announced
12 - Loft St-Remi - to be demolished this winter
13 - Building on Walnut street that's completely gone
14 - Empty garage-type building on Walnut street
15 - Building on St-Remi street, just at the edge of Saint-Henri - to be demolished
16 - Empty, abandoned business on St-Ambroise
17 - Empty, abandoned garage on St-Ambroise
18 - New condo project on Butternut - completed
19 - Abandoned Canada Malt factory
20 - Small house demolished for new condo project on Delinelle and Sainte-Emilie - completed
21 - New condo project on Delinelle where there used to be an empty lot - completed
22 - Building on Therien, partially gutted by fire - incomplete
23 - Former location of Sainte-Elizabeth church, now a huge condo/apartment complex - completed
24 - Building destroyed by fire; new condo project built there; corner of Beaudoin and St-Ambroise - in construction
25 - New condo building on St-Philippe; a garage used to be there - completed
26 - Fairly big condo building on Ste-Marguerite that replaced a garage- completed
27 - New condo project on St-Philippe; a small house used to be there - completed
28 - New condo building on Ste-Marguerite, built on empty lot next to small house - completed
29 - Abandoned apartment on the corner of St-Philippe and Ste-Emilie
30 - Abandoned and crumbling small house on St-Philippe - currently being demolished
31 - Abandoned dilapidated building on Louis-Cyr - demolished
32 - New construction on Ste-Marguerite that's been going on for some time - incomplete
33 - Two buildings ; one was recently sold while the other one, empty, is on the market
34 - Pizza restaurant demolished, replaced with condo project - in construction
35 - New building, shops and condos, on the corner of Notre Dame and Aquin/Ste-Marguerite - completed
36 - New building on the corner of Notre-Dame and Aquin/St-Philippe - almost completed
37 - Former beauty shop on the corner of St-Ferdinand and N.D. - to be demolished
38 - Big empty lot next to St-Ferdinand - unknown
39 - Burned grey stone house on the corner of Lacasse and St-Jacques
40 - Garage demolished for new condo project on the corner of St-Jacques and Ste-Marguerite - in construction
41 - Theatre Cartier - unspecified renovations going on right now
42 - Massive condo project on Maria st. - in construction
43 - New condo building replacing burned down small apartments on St-Augustin - completed
44 - New condo project to be built on empty lot on Avenue Laporte - announced
45 - Abandoned building on rue de Richelieu
46 - Destruction of building on Bourget; might be renovation - in progress
47 - Abandoned, empty building on Rosa de Lima; has been empty for some time now
48 - New project announced on St-Jacques where former Simpson warehouse used to be - announced
49 - Les Jardins Westmount; officially a Westmount project but next to Saint-Henri - announced for some time now
50 - New condo project; to be added

Vanished building on Walnut st - Saint-Henri

2011-11-16T21:18:00.001-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

The building seen below used to be on Walnut street. Today it's an empty lot. I have no idea what business used to be there.

(image above and below: google streetview)

(image above: google streetview)

This is an overview of all the condemned/empty/disappeared buildings in the area

Single level garage type building on Walnut st - Saint-Henri

2011-11-16T20:59:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This single level structure on Walnut street in Saint-Henri was closed/empty/abandoned when I was there in August. There was a note on the door on the other side telling folks they've moved in Ville St-Laurent. This is just next to the building on Walnut street that disappeared. Will it share the same fate?

Abandoned house on Turcot st - Saint-Henri

2011-11-16T20:48:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This abandoned multi-unit house on Turcot street in Saint-Henri was set to be renovated or destroyed. It's not too clear but my source said that some changes have recently been made there and I need to go back there to see what's going. Hopefully, they'll do the same thing they did to the house on Bourassa and Turcot (see below).

Vanishing small houses on Turcot st - Saint-Henri

2011-11-16T20:33:00.002-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Small abandoned house on Turcot street in Saint-Henri. Apparently there was recent changes there so I need to go back and see what was done to it.

Amazing tree in the front yard!

Renovated house on Bourassa & Turcot - Saint-Henri

2011-11-16T20:21:00.002-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This small house on Bourassa and Turcot in Saint-Henri was abandoned and in ruins but was recently renovated into a three unit house. Very nice. One of the few renovations in the area which kept the Saint-Henri look.

It used to be a two-unit house but they squeezed in an extra condo/apartment, which is not so nice. Must be small units on the second floor. But I still like it. Cool stuff.

Building on St-Remi st - NDG

2011-11-16T19:59:00.001-05:00

This building on St-Remi street, situated just at the edge of NDG and Saint-Henri, will be demolished, victim of the Turcot Interchange demolition project.

Condos on land of former St-Elizabeth church - Saint-Henri

2011-11-11T23:05:00.003-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Big and oppressive new combo condo/HLM building where the Saint-Elizabeth church used to be on De Courcelle and St-Jacques. It was also known as the Sainte-Elisabeth du Portugal. You can view images of the church's demolition at this website. The church itself wasn't the most beautiful ever built but wow what a change. After the church was demolished, the land stood empty for a couple of years (as seen below in the google streetview image) before this delicate thingy was built.

(photo credit unknown)

(image above: google streetview)

Multiple condo projects on Philipe-Lalonde (part 1) - Saint-Henri

2011-11-11T22:29:00.002-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Multiple condo projects completed (below) or still in construction (above) on a relatively new street, rue Philippe-Lalonde, in Saint-Henri. The entire St-Ambroise area near Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul is brand spanking new. Few of them are stellar looking. I imagine this is what developers would like Montreal to turn into.

Block-wide condo building on St-Ambroise (part 2) - Saint-Henri

2011-11-11T21:53:00.001-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This block wide condo project on St-Ambroise in Saint-Henri, near Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul, is one of many going on in the same area. Not a very good looking building. Behind and around it are more condos being built. On the opposite side of the street are more condos with red bricks (see below).

The basement units have railings which seem totally superfluous and they make the whole structure look like some sort of prison. Image above: google streetview.

Block-wide condo building on St-Ambroise (part 3) - Saint-Henri

2011-11-11T21:34:00.001-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This block wide condo project on St-Ambroise in Saint-Henri, near Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Paul, is one of many going on in the same area. I don't know what there was there before, houses, factory or an empty lot.

Abandoned business on St-Ambroise - Saint-Henri

2011-11-11T21:08:00.001-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This business has been closed for some time. It's situated on St-Ambroise in Saint-Henri. As pictured in the google maps image below, it's just next to the empty garage I posted about a few weeks ago.

(image above: google streetview)

(image above: google maps)

New condo project on Butternut st - Saint-Henri

2011-11-10T23:07:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

On Butternut street (cool name) in Saint-Henri an empty lot that most likely used to have a house or apartments, and was an empty for some time before a snazzy new condo building was built on its lot. I'm trying to figure out how the condos are divided within the structure but I still can't be 100% certain.

Abandoned Canada Malt Plant - Saint-Henri

2011-11-10T22:53:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Nothing much to say except this abandoned factory in Saint-Henri is either a blight to some or a thing of decayed beauty. I say both. I wonder when they'll ever demolish it but then again it's such part of the Montreal landscape and the entire rusty structure is so oppressively spooky/creepy than it's going to be a sad day when it's gone. It's a good reminder of the past, something most people don't want to deal with.

Vanishing small house on Delinelle and Ste-Emilie - Saint-Henri

2011-11-10T22:41:00.000-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This new condo(?) building on the corner of Delinelle and Ste-Emilie replaced the old small house as seen in the two images from Google Streetview below. I like the new building. Red bricks, it's not overwhelming the corner and it's only two storeys. The back has terraces.

Those old small houses with siding are an endangered species.

New condo building on Delinelle st - Saint-Henri

2011-11-10T21:44:00.001-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

New condo building on Delinelle in Saint-Henri, next to Acorn. When I took the photos, half of the condos were still empty. An empty lot was there, as seen in the image from Google Streetview.

Half burned building on Therien - Saint-Henri

2011-11-10T21:25:00.002-05:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This building on Therien in Saint-Henri, built just a few years ago, is an odd thing: half of it was burned and is empty will the other half is occupied. I don't know if I would like to live in such a place.
The land next to it is still empty.

The Google streetview image above (from rue Delinelle) shows how it was just a few years ago from the back. They haven't fixed it since. The empty lot before it is now occupied with a new condo building, as seen in the post above.

The Changing Face of Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T15:14:00.019-04:00

Red dots are new projects, in progress or completed or announced; orange dots are abandoned, condemned or burned down buildings

New condo building on Beaudoin & St-Ambroise - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T14:36:00.004-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This new condo project going on on the corner of Beaudoin and St-Ambroise is being built on the land where a fire gutted the house there. Google streetview captured the burned out shell which means the land has been empty all that time.

(image above and below: google streetview)

Vanishing small house on St-Philippe - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T14:31:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

A small house on St-Philippe in Saint-Henri was demolished and a new condo project was built on its land. I've been following this one for some time and the photos were taken during a couple of years.

(image above: google streetview)

Crumbling abandoned small house on St-Philippe - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T14:09:00.003-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This small house on St-Philippe in Saint-Henri has been abandoned and crumbling for some time. The place was being demolished just about 2 weeks ago. I'll post new photos once I get them. The photo above was taken last year and the photo below was taken this past summer.

Abandoned apartment on St-Philippe & Ste-Emilie - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T14:03:00.003-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Nothing much to say except that this apartment, which is just a stone's throw away from the crumbling house above, is boarded up and has been for some time. Someone was living there back when the google streetview image below was taken. I sense a new condo project.

New condo building on Ste-Marguerite - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T13:42:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Completed condo building on Ste-Marguerite. It's built on an empty lot just next to a small house, one of those which are disappearing from Montreal neighborhoods and will probably be gone in a few years.

(image above: google streetview)

Delayed construction project on Ste-Marguerite - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T13:31:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This construction project on Ste-Marguerite in Saint-Henri has been ongoing since forever. If you look at the before image from Google Streetview below, it shows the construction has been ongoing since that image was captured.

Also, I've never seen such an odd construction. What the hell is going on there?

(image above: google streetview)

Two buildings on Notre-Dame - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T13:17:00.002-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

The fate of these two buildings on Notre-Dame ouest, between Ste-Marguerite and Beaudoin in Saint-Henri, is unknown. The vintage one with the tavern was sold last spring and the tavern was closed and was still closed when I was in the neighborhood. Nice building and hopefully it will remain as is.

The building next to it is also for sale and the last time I was there it was still on the market. The stores were empty and the apartments looked empty too. It wouldn't surprise me if it was eventually demolished.

Pizza restaurant demolished for condos on Ste-Marguerite - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T13:04:00.003-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

A pizza restaurant was demolished on the corner of Ste-Marguerite and Notre-Dame in Saint-Henri. This is one of the fastest construction projects I've seen. The time between the third photo and the two first photos is just a couple of weeks.

(image above: google streeview)

New building on Aquin/Ste-Marguerite - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T12:54:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

New building on the corner of Ste-Marguerite/Aquin and Notre-Dame. There used to be an empty lot in that location.

(image above: google streetview)

New building on Aquin/St-Philippe & N.D. - Saint-Henri

2011-11-05T12:45:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

New building built on an empty lot on the corner of Aquin/St-Philippe and Notre-Dame.

(image above: google streetview)

Before & After on St-Augustin - Saint-Henri

2011-11-04T21:47:00.002-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

New condos were built on St-Augustin where old house were destroyed by fire a couple of years ago.

Of all the condo projects I've seen, and I've seen many, this is one of the best. It's just gorgeous. I saw it when they were unfinished (4th photo) and thought meh but when I went there again this past summer, with all of the finishing touches and I went wow.

This new project is close to the new massive Samcon condo project on Maria street, which won't be as cool as this one.

(image above: google streetview)

Land next to St-Ferdinand - Saint-Henri

2011-11-04T21:30:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

The land next to the train tracks between the streets of St-Ferdinand and Maria st has recently been worked on. This is a huge piece of land and one can imagine what will be built there.

Building on Louis-Cyr - Saint-Henri

2011-11-04T21:21:00.002-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Though you might not see it behind those trees and bushes stood a building that was recently demolished. The first time I came upon it a few years ago, when these photos were taken, I was surprised as the house or building was truly hidden behind a wild growth. It looked like fire hazard but it stood there for a couple of more years before its eventual demise.

Building on St-Ferdinand and Notre-Dame - Saint-Henri

2011-11-04T21:13:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This building, on the corner of St-Ferdinand and Notre-Dame in Saint-Henri, will be demolished. There used to be a beauty shop there. No information on what's going to be built there but it's easy to assume.

Theatre Cartier - Saint-henri

2011-11-04T21:02:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Nothing much to say except that the Theatre Cartier is currently going through some renovations. My source was recently there and said they were workers in hardhats and working on the balcony, throwing things down from it.

Abandoned building on Rosa de Lima - Saint Henri

2011-11-04T20:27:00.000-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This building has been empty for some time now. According to my source the building was apparently scheduled to be demolished last year but it's still standing. I guessed they've postponed it. These photos were taken last year. I was there this past summer and it was still empty.

Les Jardins Westmount - Westmount

2011-11-04T20:21:00.000-04:00

Though not in Saint-Henri, the new condo project called Les Jardins Westmount is situated on St-Antoine Ouest, just at the edge of Saint-Henri and Westmount. This is a renovation/facelift as they'll add just a few floors and an addition on the side to it without major changes to the original structure, which is always good news.

Calling it Jardins is a bit of a stretch for a building right next to Ville-Marie Expressway and the super busy exit to Rosa de Lima. Anything to sell some condos I guess.

Condos on Maria st - Saint-Henri

2011-10-30T16:11:00.008-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Huge Samcon condo project going on on Maria street in Saint-Henri. This area used to be in the middle of nowhere as it stands just next to some train tracks and some big empty space. Things changed certainly since they built the relatively new IGA. As you can see with this set of photos, I've been tracking this demolition/construction project for some time now.

I've created a new permanent blog page on all the action that's going on in Saint-Henri.

Looking at Maria street from Augustin street. Above is after they demolished the building and below is when the structure was still standing.

------------------------

The Samcon condo project is fairly big. Almost an entire block. There's a huge project going on in the blue area, where the interogation point is. I have no idea what's going on there but it's a big piece of land and it has been recently worked on.

The images below show what it looked like on Maria street before the demolition. All the photos below are from Google streetview. The image above is from Google maps.

Condos on avenue Laporte - Saint-Henri

2011-10-30T14:52:00.008-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This little bit of land on avenue Laporte in Saint-Henri will be a new construction site for condos. At this rate there won't be any empty space left in Montreal in a few years. They're going to fit a 6 condos building in that space? The beautiful trees will probably have to be cut down.

(Image from Google streetview)

Demolition on Bourget st - Saint-Henri

2011-10-30T14:37:00.002-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Demolition going on on Bourget street in Saint-Henri. The whole street used to be a work area with factories and such but now it's just condos and lofts.

(image: google streetview)

Building on St-Jacques - Saint-Henri

2011-10-30T13:46:00.003-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This building on St-Jacques street in Saint-Henri is either going to be demolished or getting a major facelift if the artwork on the banner shows what it's going to look like there. This project is a bit of an anomaly as practically every factory and businesses in the area are being converted into condos or lofts but this project is office space. Hmm...

Griffintown news updates

2011-10-26T15:38:00.008-04:00

I'm pausing my coverage of THE CHANGING FACE OF SAINT-HENRI for this post with breaking info over in Griffintown. Needless to say, Griffintown will be a pale shadow of itself in a year or so...

First info - Asbestos in walls

As mentioned here at VM, the facades of the building on the corner of Peel and Wellington will be merged into a new 20 storey condo complex. Here's a photo of the banner advertising the new over-the-top project. They got approval from the city with the sole condition of merging the old facades with the new structure. Now my source tells me that the facades might eventually be demolished anyway because the walls contain asbestos. Hmm...

Haven't we heard of this many times before? Builders get approval on constructing on some heritage structure or special site with some conditions but then the old building is not safe so they'll have to demolish it anyway.

Second info - Accidents happen

This beautiful building in Griffintown is considered a heritage building and is supposed to be spared from demolition when they'll build the St Ann condo complex where the one level red brick building behind it now stands. Well, according to my source, the owner of the shop was told, to the person's face, that "you never know an accident might happen, that a wall from the building could be accidentally demolished or something during construction and that a fine would only be $500 and they would eventually have to demolish the entire building afterwards." Interpret it is at you wish...

Third info - Moving garage

The bus garage on Wellington near the bridge was supposed to stay operational for a couple of years at this location while constructions are going on all around it in Griffintown. According to my source the garage and its offices was recently sold and the garage will move out as early as December of this year so the structure can be demolished for condos. The garage will relocate on St-Patrick street.

Turcot interchange - Saint-Henri

2011-10-22T18:11:00.000-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This will all be gone one day. Just sharing photos.

Vanishing garages: on Ste-Marguerite st - Saint-Henri

2011-10-15T14:23:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

A garage with a sizable piece of land on Ste-Marguerite st in Saint-Henri is gone replaced by a big, blocky condo building. The once open airy area is probably the most valued aspect of the former garage that was lost with this new building, making the street seem more narrow. Like the rest of Saint-Henri, there's lots of activity going on right now on Ste-Marguerite street. I think there are four or five new projects on that street alone.

(image above: google streetview)

Vanishing garages: on St Philippe st - Saint-Henri

2011-10-15T14:05:00.003-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

The "Service de Resorts St-Henri" on St-Philippe st in Saint-Henri has been replaced with a condo building. Just on the other side of the street there's another new condo building but there was a house there and not a garage.

(image above: google streetview)

Vanishing garages: on St-Ambroise st - Saint-Henri

2011-10-15T01:37:00.001-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

This dilapidated shell of a garage is still standing on St-Ambroise st in Saint-Henri. It's been abandoned for some time now. The land next to it is massive which means that whenever the garage will go, and whatever they'll build there the project will be big. On the left of it was Construction Morival, which is also closed/abandoned.

(image above: google streetview)

Vanishing garages: on St-Jacques st - Saint-Henri

2011-10-15T01:15:00.002-04:00

part of the changing face of Saint-Henri

Before

The "Centre D'Auto Saint-Jacques" garage on Saint-Jacques street in Saint-Henri is gone making way for new condo project.The Before photo was taken last year and the After photo was taken last week.

After

Vanishing garages: on St-Patrick - Ville-Émard

2011-10-14T23:37:00.003-04:00

A garage on the corner of St-Patrick and Monk blvd is now gone and a new condo project, called LE ST-PATRICK, will be built there. The view of the beautiful red brick building next to it will most certainly be blocked by the condo.

(image above: google streetview)

Vanishing garages: on Sherbrooke & Jeanne-Mance

2011-10-13T17:10:00.000-04:00

Regular VM contributor Denis Heraud provided these photos of the garage on the corner of Sherbrooke and Jeanne-Mance getting demolished. Denis said he doesn't know what will be built there but it's not difficult to guess. Condos perhaps? lol.

Thanks Denis!

(image above: google streetview)

Vanishing garages: on Bannantyne - Verdun

2011-10-13T16:46:00.004-04:00

There used to be 4 garages on the corner of 5th ave and Bannantyne in Verdun. Three of them are gone with condos/apartment buildings built there so it's not a big supposition that the Petro-Canada will also make way for another condo building. If you look at this Google streetview link, you can see the 3 new condo buildings and the last standing garage. It's the end of an era.

The 1977 David Cronenberg film RABID was shot in part in Verdun and you can see the garages briefly in it. I've added some screengrabs from that movie.

Screengrabs taken from RABID released in 1977. This is the corner of 5th ave and Bannantyne in Verdun where there used to be 4 garages.

Vanishing garages: on Joseph st - Verdun

2011-10-13T16:29:00.002-04:00

A garage on the corner of Joseph, blvd Henri Duhamel/Atwater ave is now gone. The one level red brick building behind it was also demolished even if it still appears in my two photos. There's already a hole there as of this writing.

(image above: google streetview)

(image above and below: google streetview)

The red brick building seen in the above grab from Google streetview has been demolished.

Presto (Provigo) / Condos on Rielle & Gordon st - Verdun

2011-10-07T17:19:00.004-04:00

The photo above, taken in the fall of 2009, shows an empty cleared out land before the two big Samcon condo buildings were built on Gordon and Rielle streets in Verdun. The photo was taken from Rielle looking towards Gordon. There was a big Presto (Provigo) food retailer/reseller there. The land was severely contaminated (link) which would explain why the project took so long to finish.

Google Streetview still shows the empty lot: link (which will disappear once google updates their files).

(image above: samcon)

Condos on Rielle

As seen from the Google Maps image below, the Samcon project was fairly big. Just next to it, in yellow, is a small house that was recently sold (next topic below). The image above shows the triplex in between the small house and the Samcon condos on Rielle.

Vanishing small house - Verdun

2011-10-07T17:17:00.004-04:00

This small house on Rielle street in Verdun was recently sold. The asking price was around $250K+. The old woman who used to live there died and the house had been vacant since then. The house will certainly be demolished for new condos.

Disappearing & appearing acts on Hadley st - Côte-Saint-Paul

2011-10-07T17:13:00.003-04:00

(image above: google streetview)

This building at the corner of the street in the image above is gone and there's an empty lot there as seen in the photo I took below. It's situated on Hadley and Villiers in Côte-Saint-Paul (the empty lot on the right next to it has a new building there. I didn't take a photo of the new one).

While just one block from this spot...

(image above: google streetview)

...on the corner of Denonville and Hadley there's a new condo building where there used to be an empty lot.

(image above: google streetview)

Condo on Cardinal st - Côte-Saint-Paul

2011-10-07T16:57:00.000-04:00

New 4 level condo building built on the lawn surrounding small house on Cardinal st in Côte-Saint-Paul. When will the small house be next?

Vanishing small houses - Côte-Saint-Paul

2011-10-07T13:10:00.002-04:00

Here are two examples of small houses disappearing from the city of Montreal. These two are in the Côte-Saint-Paul district.

rue Le Caron

(image above: google streetview)

rue Villiers

(image above: google streetview)

Hillside condos - Westmount

2011-10-02T18:54:00.009-04:00

Just a few steps from the Redfern condo project (see next post), the new Hillside condominium building on Hillside avenue replaced another building that used to be vacant. It's just next to the Royal Canadian Engineers building, a beautiful old red brick structure which hopefully will remain intact. The old blue/grey building was, needless to say, quite ugly.

From August 2010 article:

"Originally the Caledonia Curling Club, the building most recently housed Giant Steps, a school for children with special needs, and is currently vacant."

Article

(image above: google streetview)

Redfern condos - Westmount

2011-10-02T18:39:00.002-04:00

This office building on Redfern and Ste-Catherine in Westmount will be gutted and converted/transformed/retrofitted/redesigned into a new snazzy luxurious condo complex. Though a bit bland and uninspired the building itself is in pretty good condition (from the outside anyway) as seen in photo no 6. Reader's Digest offices used to be situated there before they moved them on Peel and Rene-Levesque.

I'm sorta ambivalent by this project. The current building is not an eye-sore and it's fine as it is and knowing that there are more deserving buildings out there that should be "disappeared" I don't see the need for the radical change BUT the new condo project is actually pretty cool and I actually can't wait to see it once it's finished.

215 Redfern website

Before & After - St John the Divine Anglican church - Verdun

2011-09-27T20:57:00.009-04:00

Here's an extensive series of Before & After photos of one of my favorite churches. It's situated on Moffat street in Verdun, close to Bannantyne. I like this church so much that I did a series of paintings inspired by it. These paintings were made years before it was bought out of financial difficulty and converted into a 18 units condo complex. You can view them at my online portfolio. Obviously, I prefer the Before. It looks cluttered now. They changed the side of the rooftop by adding another level and several windows were either removed completely or lost their original design. My first blog posts were about this church. You can find the links at the blog archive on the left.

Quote:

"The St John the Divine church was built in 1929 and enlarged in 1937. The neo-gothic church is the work of Ross and MacDonald, the premier architectural firm in Canada at the time. Their magnificent work includes the Chateau Laurier, Dominion Square building, le Chateau apartments and Holt Renfrew building, among others."

I created a new blog page dedicated to the church. There are many photos of the beautiful interior posted at that page as well.

All the Before photos were taken with a 35mm camera with different film stock.

Reader's input: Sanimax recycling complex - HOMA

2011-09-23T01:32:00.009-04:00

Denis Heraud already contributed some photos of the Medley/Vieux Munich after it was demolished (link). He wrote to me again, while I was on vacation, that the Sanimax recycling plant, in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district, was being dismantled. Here are 2 of the 6 photos he sent to me. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it. Big plant making way for big real estate space. Denis wrote this: "It is set to become affordable housing for the elderly I believe, in the form of Les Terrasses de l’Hibiscus." Cool.

(image above and below: google streeview/maps)

Reader's input: Medley/ Vieux Munich

2011-09-23T00:46:00.003-04:00

An anonymous reader send me some youtube links to videos showing the Vieux Munich/Medley getting demolished. Amazing stuff. Thank you so much for this whoever you are.

Building on the corner of Peel & Wellington - Griffintown

2011-09-20T15:42:00.006-04:00

This photo is a bit out of focus as I took it from a moving bus 4 years ago. I never bothered taking a direct photo of this building because I assumed that they would never touch this one. Well, I guess I was wrong. Promoter Luc Poirier got the permit to build a 20-storey high building there. The only condition set by the city for the demolition: they have to keep and integrate the facades on Peel and Wellington with the new building. Wow. This is enough to realize that Montreal has really lost it. These small unassuming buildings are what gives this city, or any city for that matter, character. Erecting another huge bland condo/office/whatever project there is truly sad, and sad for Griffintown.

Link via Montréalités urbaines

Additional link

Liguori condo project/Eglise St-Alphonse-d'Youville - Villeray

2011-09-18T19:31:00.007-04:00

The construction site for the Liguori condo project, which doesn't interest me. What interests me though is the fact that this stunning view of the church will soon disappear behind the bland 8-storey high condo project. What a shame. Also, the effect of the hole they dug out combined with the grey brickwork is simply amazing. A great subject for photography. The monastery (the last photo) will be converted into affordable residences (how affordable?). An extension to the monastery was demolished. You can view a photo when it was intact here. The future of the impressive church itself is mentioned here.

Ecole St-Bernardin - Saint-Michel

2011-09-18T16:19:00.003-04:00

Something you don't see a lot these days: an abandoned school (in this case, an annex of the school) in a neighborhood far from the downtown area that hasn't been converted into condos. Schools were one of the first old structures that were converted into condominiums/lofts decades ago. When I came across this (quite by accident), my heart skipped a beat. Beautiful.

de l'Église - Montreal's grittiest street? - CSP & Verdun

2011-09-05T13:37:00.004-04:00

After rue Allard, here's another profile on a specific street: de l'Église.

The infamous street goes through Verdun and Côte-Saint-Paul. The Verdun side is slowly getting better but the Côte-Saint-Paul side is still pretty much rundown. It was once called Church street but changed to de l'Église. Streets like this are getting more rare with the current boom in condo constructions.

L'Église Saint-Paul in Côte-Saint-Paul.

This photo was taken on the Verdun side

Nice solid building on the corner of Hadley and de l'Église. It's still in use. The new building below is also at the same corner.

Building for sale on d'Orleans - HOMA

2011-09-05T13:14:00.001-04:00

Building for sale on d'Orleans avenue in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, just next to the massive Shawinigan Water & Power building/project. The only reason I post about this is because of its location just next to the SWP site. It's probably going to be gobbled up by it or converted into separate condos as well.

Shawinigan Water & Power building - Interior - HOMA

2011-08-25T12:52:00.004-04:00

The Shawinigan Water & Power Company building in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve was transformed into two phases: one phase is the main red brick building on d'Orleans ave, which they kept and restored as a Coopérative d'habitation, which is cool. The second phase is on de Rouen and Jeanne d'Arc where the standard boring Samcon condos have been built on the old grounds of the power plant. In the following post, I show how the exterior of the massive transformation looks like. In this post I show the stunning interior. The sense of space of the interior is breathtaking. I don't know how much privacy there is when living there but the whole concept is fantastic. I wonder if the huge entrances, at the front and the back (pictured above) stay wide open during winter.

From the back entrance

Shawinigan Water & Power building - Exterior - HOMA

2011-08-25T12:45:00.006-04:00

Impressive restoration/renovation/reconstruction/transformation of the huge Shawinigan Water & Power Company building in between avenue d'Orleans and Jeanne d'Arc in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Of all the places I've been and visited this is the best I've seen. In fact, the entire HOMA area is one impressive restoration after another.

(image above: google streetview)

Above and below: after & before as seen from d'Orleans avenue

(image above: google streetview)

Above and below: after & before as seen from Jeanne d'Arc avenue

(image above: google streetview)

Still more construction going on for the future

Street (Charlemagne?) in between projects on Jeanne d'Arc and d'Orlean

Above and below: after & before as seen from rue De Rouen; back of the condos on Jeanne d'Arc

(image above: google streetview)

The beautiful Samcon look. This is on Jeanne d'Arc avenue