The building, which dates back to 1920, is the original site of the Wesley United Church, located at the corner of Chemin de la Côte St-Antoine and Draper Avenue. This neighborhood, composed mainly of houses designed and built by John Hand in the early 20th century, is of great architectural significance. We believe it represents the largest concentration of the architect’s work in Montreal. Draper Street is a cohesive and harmonious collection of residences typical of the NDG neighborhood—no condos, no duplexes, only single-family homes, whether detached, semi-detached, or row houses.

A developer acquired the site, along with its garden (known as the Secret Garden, which was used until recently by local daycare centers). The Urban Planning Advisory Committee of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough approved minor zoning variances related to height (elevating the site on a concrete podium and building enclosed glass penthouses above the existing roofline), setbacks (projecting beyond the existing houses on the street), and residential density (increasing from one unit to at least seven, possibly more). The proposed dark, modern style sharply contrasts with the existing harmonious heritage architecture.

The green space would be eliminated to make way for the concrete base and a semi-basement underground parking structure, on which the entire project would rest. The building should be classified as heritage, but currently is not. Its foundation is in poor condition, and there are concerns that without proper maintenance, it will become unsalvageable. This year marks the building’s 100th anniversary, and throughout its history, it has served a community purpose, including as an orphanage and later as a shelter for women at risk and victims of domestic violence.

The city plans to grant permission to build seven condominium units with a decidedly modern design, including slopes, height variances, and misalignment with the century-old neighboring houses. The city is merely requesting that the developer plant approximately eight trees at their expense, even though available space to do so will be almost non-existent. The approval process has been fast-tracked, and affected residents only learned of the project by chance.

On November 13, 2019, a public consultation was held at 5160 Décarie Boulevard, 4th floor. Following this meeting, the developer appeared to take some citizen concerns into account and modified a few aspects of the project.

In 2022, the building was converted into condominiums, which were sold that same year. The exterior architectural features and green space were preserved. However, the garden design was modified.