Fire destroys 140-year-old building in downtown Montreal

A fire has destroyed a 140-year-old building in downtown Montreal whose owner had for years been urging the city to rezone it for a new development. 

The fire, which began shortly after 2 a.m. on Tuesday, tore through the building's timber frame, a fire department spokesperson said. It continued to burn hours later, even as more than 100 firefighters doused the smouldering blaze with water. 

The building, located at the intersection of Ste-Catherine West and Towers streets, was a total loss, the spokesperson said.

It had housed a few commercial, residential and short-term rental units, including a fried chicken shop and other restaurants. 

No injuries have been reported, though residents fled the burning building in the middle of the night, and firefighters conducted at least one rescue. The Red Cross is taking care of the evacuees. 

Municipal records date the building to 1885, and, though the city had not classified it as a historical building, it is listed as being in an area of "patrimonial interest."

The building's owner, Amcor Holdings, has at least twice urged the city to rezone it. 

In a scathing letter submitted to Montreal's public consultation office in October 2020, the company lambasted the city for lowering the density of the area where the building is located. 

Surrounding areas had been rezoned years earlier to allow for higher buildings and increased density. But the area where the Amcor Holdings building was located remained in a lower density zoning, creating a barrier to development. 

The company wanted to build a "comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment which would greatly improve the site."

The company also took issue with the city's characterization of the property. It said the building may have been built in 1885, but it had been renovated 50 years later.

"Although from a distance, the buildings may appear to possess a charming Victorian character or a European style," the company wrote, "a view from much closer illustrates that the architecture is not really Victorian at all but with replica Victorian details applied to the facade, with materials such as corrugated metal and stucco."

The building was in bad condition, the company went on to say. Its structure was deteriorating and would continue to do so. 

"Our property, as well as many others along Ste-Catherine, needs an incentive to improve the built form and renovate," the company argued. "The reduction of our development potential will have the opposite effect and many properties in need of repair and requalification will deteriorate."

CBC has reached out to both Amcor Holdings and the City of Montreal, but has not yet received a response. 

The cause of the fire is still undetermined. The case was transferred to the Montreal police department late Tuesday evening.