The City of Montreal says it will be demolishing the former Chinese Hospital on Saint-Denis Street in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough. In a written statement, the city said it had made the decision based on analyses showing that it was the “most appropriate” option. According to the city, the building was abandoned in 1999 and is currently in an advanced state of disrepair. “It has significant decontamination needs and has been subject to repeated break-ins despite security measures put in place over the years,” the city said. On its website, Heritage Montreal noted that in 2010 there was a proposal to transform the building into a residential facility for Inuit patients. However, the community opposed the plan. Another rejected proposal involved converting the building into a multi-sector community centre in 2015. The city eventually acquired the building in 2019 with the intention of developing it into social and community housing, a plan that never materialized. The city put the building up for sale in 2024. “The safety of the surrounding neighbourhood will remain a priority during the work. Protective measures will be put in place at the beginning of the project, including the installation of a secure fence, access controls and surveillance measures.” The city added that the demolition work is expected to be completed in 2027. “This step will help prepare the site for its future. Once the work is completed, the property will be added to the municipal land registry for sites intended for non-market housing,” the city said.
