Plan for former Cinéma Paradis land to become affordable and social housing: City of Montreal
Posted November 26, 2025 5:20 pm.
Last Updated November 26, 2025 5:38 pm.
The City of Montreal plans to acquire the former Cinéma Paradis land in the Tétreaultville sector of the eastern part of the island.
By exercising its right of first refusal, the City will be able to demolish the building located at 8215 Hochelaga Street and transfer the land to a non-profit organization.
“Finally! I am happy to announce the end of the long and sad saga of the Paradis cinema, a place that has been abandoned for more than 15 years and haunts the residents of the area. We will be able to demolish this dilapidated building, which encourages littering, and thus restore the prestige of this section of Hochelaga Street,” explained Chantal Gagnon, mayor of the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
The cinema was originally purchased and renovated in 1974 by Angelo Guzzo. In July 2025, he sold the property to Investissements Denmar Inc. for $800,000. Two months later, the site was listed for $1.679 million.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Executive Committee member responsible for housing and planning and mayor of the Outremont borough Caroline Braun said deconstruction is scheduled to begin by 2027 and emphasized the city’s goal to accelerate housing construction, support families and seniors, preserve social diversity, and reduce the burden on non-profit orgarnizations.
The Martinez Ferrada administration also said they are looking into different avenues to accelerate the process of demolition, sooner than the planned 2027 date.
Over the past 16 years, multiple redevelopment projects led by Vincent Guzzo failed to materialize. The cinema has fallen into disrepair, covered in graffiti, and has been repeatedly criticized by residents and housing groups.
In 2021, the East Island Housing Committee called for the demolition of the building to make way for social housing, but no progress was made.
“By purchasing land such as that of the former Paradis cinema, we are finally taking action on an issue that has been dragging on for 15 years. We are buying a building that has fallen into serious disrepair in order to build affordable and social housing, which is a priority for our administration,” said Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada. “This is concrete proof of our commitment to build more, better, and faster to reduce the housing crisis and improve the quality of life for citizens in eastern Montreal.”
City officials described the acquisition as an opportunity to finally put the long-vacant site to productive use and provide much-needed affordable housing in the neighbourhood.
