Published on : August 01 2018
Last modified on : August 06 2025
Alert submitted by: Lucy Yuan
1425 MacKay Street (adjacent to Concordia University) was recently targeted by the City for expropriation. This 133-year-old building is slated for demolition to make way for a very small green space.
The basis of the “green space” project is primarily to merge it with the green area surrounding St. James the Apostle Church and to enhance its historic charm. However, 1425 MacKay is just as old as St. James Church—built around the same time (circa 1885)—and holds the same historical value as Bishop Court (according to the Montreal Heritage Council). It currently sits within the same protection zone as Bishop Court. Nevertheless, the City and the Ville-Marie borough council refuse to protect (or preserve) 1425 MacKay because it is not included on the City’s heritage list. The City completely overlooks the fact that 1425 MacKay has genuinely historic architectural character. Therefore, in my view, 1425 MacKay should be treated with the same respect as St. James the Apostle Church.
The 1425 MacKay building is located on the periphery of the proposed green space project, diagonally behind St. Jax–James Church. It in no way obstructs the view of the church from the street and does not interfere with the proposed park design.
1425, rue MacKay
1425 MacKay is the only remaining example, on this stretch of the street, of 19th-century architectural production. It serves as a testament to Montreal’s history. All Montrealers should be aware that once a historic building is destroyed, it is gone forever — and that demolishing such a building irreversibly alters the character of its neighborhood. Instead, preserving 1425 MacKay as part of the green space project would create a block of historic prestige along this portion of Sainte-Catherine Street, all the way to the end of the MacKay corner. The green space project does not need to take over 1425 MacKay! This building is far too valuable to be sacrificed for a small parcel of land.
As shown in the image, 1425 MacKay (in red) is tiny compared to the overall project area. All lots slated for demolition are highlighted in green. Given how far along the process is, we are calling on lovers of history and architecture to speak out and contact the municipal administration.
The construction of the adjacent building was completed around 2023–2024. 1425 MacKay Street was not demolished and is currently occupied by a commercial business.
Ville-Marie
Mechanisms for protection
Urban Development
Private
Lack of knowledge
Demolition
Owner
Commercial
1885
Located in an area of exceptional heritage value
How do you see this Montreal site? What legacy has it left us? What future can we create for it? Where to start to get there? Who wants to participate in the project?
You have questions? Want to do more, but lack the information? Consult our toolkit to learn more about the heritage of the Montreal metropolitan area, the preservation mechanisms in place and possible actions.
