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Published on : September 07 2018
Last modified on : July 15 2025
Alert submitted by: Simon Francoeur
This is a landmark building in the eastern part of downtown, an important testament to Quebec’s popular history, having once housed the offices and printing presses of the newspaper La Patrie. Its two monumental neoclassical façades, built of cut limestone, are particularly noteworthy and, until recently, were well preserved. A religious group purchased the building from UQAM in 2007 and has left it abandoned ever since.
In 2018, the borough confirmed the building’s religious use, although a commercial use must be maintained in the northern portion of the ground floor. The façades are to be preserved in the event of a future redevelopment project.
Édifice La Patrie
According to an article in Le Devoir, no work has been carried out on the building since it was acquired by the religious organization. In 2018, the borough approved a permit to convert the building into a place of worship, which was renewed in 2021, but no construction has ever begun. As this permit nears expiration, no request for renewal has been submitted. The future of the building therefore remains uncertain.
While awaiting a redevelopment project, the building is occasionally occupied by artists who display artwork in its storefront windows and temporarily use some of the interior spaces.
In 2022, the building was added to the Ville-Marie borough’s list of vacant properties.
Ville-Marie
Mechanisms for protection
Private: religious organization
Vacant
No upkeep
Georges-Alphonse Monette and Joseph-Ovide Turgeon
Owner
Commercial
1905
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.
