‘Just fix it’: Tenants evacuated from apartments in Montreal’s Le Plateau after worry of collapse

Just a few days after Quebec’s July 1st Moving day – about 80 tenants from apartment buildings in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal were evacuated as a precaution after concerns arose regarding the structural integrity of a neighbouring building.

The Montreal Fire Department received a call around 2 p.m. on July 4 from a citizen concerned after bricks reportedly fell off the 5990 Parc Avenue building, near Van Horne Avenue, which prompted officials to deem the area as a safety concern.

“We went on the premises and the analysis that was made by the firemen there is that there was indeed a risk of a collapse,” said Guy Lapointe, Division Chief for the Montreal Fire Department.

“I’m hoping they’re going to either fix it or demolish it. One or the other. I mean, it’s been there like that for such a long time,” said concerned neighbor William Nicholls.

Authorities set up a perimeter and analyzed the situation, the fire department then explained that this file is now the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough’s responsibility.

“It could have collapsed on either one of the buildings, on either side, the ones that were evacuated. So, for safety purposes, that’s why we decided to evacuate everyone,” Lapointe added.

Officials explained that a wooded fence was erected as a precaution around the area. Other residents we spoke to who asked to remain anonymous, voiced their frustrations as the fence has provided additional safety concerns — many saying it’s become dangerous to cross the road.

“It freaks me out. Absolutely, it’s a particularly busy street, especially this section. There are families who pass here, people with children, with strollers, and nowhere on one side or the other is it indicated,” said a Montreal woman who wished to remain anonymous.

‘There’s enough road work going on in Montreal you don’t need anymore’

Other residents echo this feeling of frustration as it has now impacted drivers and daily commuters.

“How do you get around it?” Nicholls asked. “You got to somehow cross the street here or go down there. It’s not very convenient at all and I think they should have left us some sort of a little walkway, which we really don’t have.”

“There’s enough road work going on in Montreal you don’t need anymore,” he added.

The Plateau-Mont-Royal Borough tells CityNews in a statement that:

“We have been following this matter closely for several months. We are still in communication with the building administrators, Jonathan Pigeon and Daniel Lalonde, to ensure that the owner fulfills his obligations as quickly as possible. Failing this, the Borough may take the necessary legal measures to ensure public safety,” the release reads.

“The demolition of the building, which should have been completed by its owner, will be carried out as soon as possible following the approval of a procedure by a structural engineer, based on the specifics of the building’s condition and its relationship to adjacent buildings.

CityNews has tried to reach the building’s owners – but was not able to get in touch with them. Francis Huot, Communications Officer for the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough explained that “given that the matter is currently in dispute with the owner, we cannot provide further details at this time,” he said.

Ian Cucurull, owner of the neighbouring building of 5980 Parc Avenue, explained that in 2023 the City of Montreal hired a firm stating that the 5990 Parc Avenue building was dangerous and that it had to be demolished.

“That’s what I read in the 2025 report that I requested from the City of Montreal, and it said that in 2023, they had given the same indication,” he explained.

Several tenants attended the regular Plateau-Mont-Royal council meeting on Monday evening, reportedly putting pressure on the City.

“Following this incident, the City of Montreal should at least be more proactive. There should be a post-mortem analysis on their part,” Cucurull said.

“We find ourselves in 2025, after, what, two and a half years?” Cucurull asked. “[And] the building is still there, it risks collapsing at any moment.”

In addition, the borough says they are in communication with Montreal’s municipal housing office to provide support and offer services to evacuees in the coming days – who have not been able to return to their homes – and it’s unclear when they will

“Just fix it. I mean, it’s been there long enough,” Nicholls said.

“The problem has been there long enough if you can’t fix it, sell it, get someone else to fix it. The building could become useful, I mean there is enough of a housing problem in Montreal already.”