According to the statement of heritage interest (in French) issued in October 2012 by the Division de l’expertise en patrimoine et de la toponymie of the City of Montréal, “the heritage interest of the site of the Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil church is based primarily on its urban landscape value due to the strong presence of the church, its visibility and monumentality, the site’s contribution to the institutional core and its positive contribution to the sector.
The site also has artistic value due to the quality of the monumental architectural composition of the church, its important ornamentation and its materials, the quality of its interior spaces and the architectural quality of the presbytery.
The site has symbolic and social value because of the community’s attachment to it, the memories associated with it, the spiritual significance associated with the church and the spirit of the place, and the importance of the church at the heart of the neighborhood’s religious and social activity. Finally, its heritage value lies in its historical significance, as it is closely linked to the history of the neighborhood.
However, the church has been abandoned for many years and is threatened by vandalism and structural deterioration, which could lead to its demolition. In 2019, a major fire, which required the intervention of dozens of firefighters, destroyed the church floor and severely damaged the artwork inside. Since then, the church has been vacant and deteriorating. Several projects have been proposed over the years (housing cooperative, private residential project) without coming to fruition.
The building is at high risk of demolition due to its advanced deterioration, weakened structural conditions, and the resulting safety issues. Since the arson attack in 2019, the condition of the Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil church has continued to deteriorate, exacerbated by repeated intrusions and the presence of squatters, which increases the risk of further damage.
In January 2026, a legal appeal was filed in Superior Court to obtain authorization to demolish the building on the basis of these safety issues. The City of Montreal recognizes the building as having exceptional heritage value. Municipal procedures related to site safety are also underway.