Montreal’s Sainte-Catherine Street East to be pedestrianized year-round in the Village

Sainte-Catherine Street East in Montreal’s Village will become pedestrian-only year-round. The section between Berri Street and De Lorimier Avenue stretches one kilometer.

“The goal is to make Sainte-Catherine Street East more welcoming and dynamic, while consolidating its role as a tourist, commercial, cultural, and identity destination,” said the City in a news release.

The announcement was made Friday at a press conference by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and her administration.

“Faced with the need to replace aging underground infrastructure, the City is taking this opportunity to enhance the pedestrian and shopping experience on this iconic artery of the metropolis,” reads the release.

“The village has always been an inclusive place and it’s very important and the values to keep that way but for that we also need to support with a great how we will redo the street,” said Plante.

They explain that for several months, various organizations and associations – including the Village SDC – have been invited to make their voices heard.

Following this consultation process, which began as part of the Village Forum, the redevelopment concept includes:

• the pedestrianization of Sainte-Catherine Street East, between Berri Street and Papineau Avenue, with unique and distinctive features;
• increased greening with more than 225 trees;
• the creation of more than 1,000 m² of green pits, two-thirds of which will also function as rain gardens;
• the addition of street furniture providing a total of 125 seats;
• the installation of a large light ceiling, visible all year round.

Merchants will be able to continue installing terraces on a portion of the public space, in a simplified manner and for an extended period.

Construction will begin in the fall of 2026 in the central portion of the sector. The work will be carried out in sections to minimize the duration of the impact on residents. The last sections are scheduled for completion by the end of 2030.

The city also says measures will be put in place to support unhoused people in the area during the construction period.

The announcement came just days after Projet Montreal pledged twenty-two and a half million dollars towards tackling homelessness.

 “We have a mitigation approach,” said Plante. “We’re working with a lot of organization. There’s a lot of shelters also, so we’re working together  and we’re really trying to do our best.  I have to say.”

“The redevelopment project for Sainte-Catherine Street East represents a decisive step for the future of the Village, particularly with thousands of new residents set to move into the neighbourhood. Thanks to these investments, we will be able to offer an even more attractive, safe, and inclusive living and business environment,” said Gabrielle Rondy, Executive Director of the Village SDC. “This transformation will give new momentum to our merchants, while reinforcing the Village’s unique identity as the vibrant cultural, economic, and community heart of Montreal.”

According to data collected by the SDC using its pedestrian counters, more than eight million visits have been recorded on Sainte-Catherine Street East since the beginning of the summer season.

Financial support during construction

The City explains that there is a financial assistance program for businesses located in an area affected by major construction and it will allow commercial establishments to obtain a subsidy based on the loss of gross profit for an eligible fiscal year exceeding five per cent.

Eligible establishments can obtain a maximum subsidy of $40,000 per eligible fiscal year.

“People believe in the vision once it will be done, but during it’s tough,” said Plante. So we’re also doing fasage in sequence.  So we won’t be doing it.  We won’t close this street for two summers in a row.”

There is also a $5,000 lump sum grant program for any eligible establishment located in an area affected by major construction work in the Greater Montreal area.

“The redevelopment of Sainte-Catherine East reflects the vision we have always championed: creating projects for those who live in and experience the city. Whenever major underground work is required on a commercial artery, we take the opportunity to improve the street layout and experience. After a three-year consultation process, we are proud to present a development concept that will live up to Sainte-Catherine East’s reputation as a cutting-edge street,” said Plante.

“With year-round pedestrianization, Sainte-Catherine East will enjoy the same conditions for success that it does in the summer and will become a winter destination unlike any other in the country. This is an ambitious project that is on par with the transformation of the Village, which, thanks to projects under development in the area, will welcome 25,000 new residents who will have this commercial artery as their local street.”

The project could be game changing according to residents like street performer Matt Ryan – who says a permanent pedestrian zone gives him a full kilometer of room to perform.

“I actually can have a whole road and sometimes a couple hundred people will stop and watch,” said Ryan.

Leader of Ensemble Montréal – the official opposition, Sorya Martinez Ferrada, weighed in just hours after the announcement – saying that businesses should be properly consulted before the city moves ahead – and that more must be done to draw people to the village through events.

“In the winter you don’t have the terrace so it’s different the way that you make the city alive is different,” said Ferrada.

According to Gabrielle Rondy, who spearheaded the city’s business consultation, local merchants have been part of the process.

“This week they had like a special presentation for the merchants everybody was like super enthusiastic like their reception was like super positive,” said Rondy.

While many welcome the change, some worry about the four year construction period – and are calling for financial aid to vary according to their expenses.

“My rent could be $10,000 and my neighbor’s rent is $3,000,” said Hussam Soumaya, owner of Tommy Cafe on Sainte-Catherine Street East. “He’s older than me here. So what is a good compensation for you might not be enough compensation for me or vice versa.”

They’re also urging the city to invest more in programming to bring people into the area year-round.

“They come visit this site when it’s pedestrian only summertime,” said Hussam. “Wintertime, it’s completely dead.”