Montreal expands soundproofing funding for music venues after La Tulipe closure

Montreal is widening its soundproofing support program for live music venues, increasing eligibility and funding to protect the city's cultural spaces.

The city is also looking to adjust borough bylaws to better protect venues, but critics say it's not enough. One venue owner says the bylaws need a complete overhaul and the Opposition at city hall wants to see more investment in smaller spaces.

The soundproofing funding, initially available only to venues with fewer than 400 seats, will now include larger venues with capacities up to 3,000.

The city is injecting an additional $2.5 million into the program, allowing more performance spaces to access up to $350,000 in funding to enhance soundproofing.

The issue of noise complaints and music venue survival has been contentious in Montreal, where clashes have led to the closure of several beloved spaces. A recent example is La Tulipe, the historic venue on Papineau Avenue in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough

Located in a century-old theater, La Tulipe closed after a new neighbour pursued legal action over noise concerns. The borough has since revised its bylaw, but the concert hall remains closed.

A final note on the venue says, "With this decision, more than 100 years of history comes to an end!"

City says larger venues will be helped

Ericka Alneus, Montreal's executive committee member in charge of culture, heritage, gastronomy and nightlife, explained that the soundproofing program had initially focused on smaller venues that were seen as more vulnerable to noise-related issues.

The expansion now brings larger venues into the fold, as well as those venues not previously recognized as "performance halls." Under the new eligibility criteria, venues that regularly host performance art can apply for this status and potentially access soundproofing funds.

This is not meant for businesses that have already invested in soundproofing, Alneus said, adding that the expanded funding is aimed at ensuring Montreal's cultural spaces can coexist with residents. 

The city is also working with boroughs across Montreal to develop consistent bylaws that balance the cultural vibrancy of live music venues with residents' right to live without noise disturbance, she said.

"I can understand how, for many venues, it's a tough period and that they might feel unheard," she said. "But I really want to reassure [them] that our administration really wants to do more, and we want to be there."

The city's soundproofing program, which began in 2022, now extends to "almost all private performance halls in Montreal," according to Alneus. 

In a news release, she said, "Alternative venues are dear to Montrealers. They are also very important for the next generation and emerging culture. We cannot afford to see them close."

More protection needed for existing venues

However, some venue owners argue that funding alone will not solve the issue. Turbo Haüs co-owner Sergio Da Silva said the available funding isn't enough for older buildings. But he said it should be up to people moving into the area to soundproof their own homes if they don't like the noise.

"Ultimately, the bylaws need to be changed," said Da Silva, whose bar and music venue in Montreal's central Quartier des Spectacles neighbourhood has also faced noise complaints.

"It shouldn't be up to the place that's been there for 100 years to spend all this money, which wouldn't even do much because retrofitting a 100-year-old building to be soundproof, to conform with these bylaws, is not going to happen. It's not going to work."

Da Silva said scaling back the bylaws so they aren't so strict is a good step, but there should be further efforts to protect existing venues so they aren't the target of new neighbours who complain about the noise, as was the case of La Tulipe.

"We want to have these places protected," said Da Silva. "We want these bylaws to respect those needs."

Julien Hénault-Ratelle, Ensemble Montréal's spokesperson for economic development, said in a statement that the Opposition party welcomes an enhancement of the soundproofing program, but said the announcement does not address the demands of Quebec's network of alternative music venues, known as Scènes de musique alternatives du Québec (SMAQ).

This group, supported by Ensemble Montréal, requested that the city deploy a financial support program specifically for independent venues with capacities under 1,000 seats.

"Unfortunately, the administration of Projet Montréal refused to consider implementing such a program, which would have helped support Montreal's struggling performance spaces," said Hénault-Ratelle.