Crews will carry out the partial demolition of the former Canada Malting plant in Montreal’s Saint-Henri neighbourhood next week. The work comes after an engineering report commissioned by the site’s developer, La Malterie Inc., concluded that the building is at imminent risk of collapsing. Workers from Demex, under the supervision of engineers, will begin the work starting on Monday and will last approximately five days, focusing on the nine-storey building and its façade. Construction equipment will be removed in the following 72 hours. “Members of the public are asked to avoid the vicinity of the site and to respect the safety perimeter and signage in place at all times. The safety perimeter and traffic restrictions on Rue Saint-Ambroise will be lifted as soon as the experts confirm that there is no danger to the public and authorize their removal,” La Malterie said in a news release on Thursday. According to the engineering report, controlled demolition was the “one and only” solution to ensure public safety amid concerns that the upper portion of the low roof could collapse, causing the lower part of the building to collapse onto Saint-Ambroise Street. “We are approaching this with all the rigour and sensitivity that this iconic site demands, and will continue to monitor the condition of the building and carry out the necessary work,” said La Malterie representative Noam Schnitzer in the release. The plant was built in 1905 and was a major supplier of raw material to Montreal’s brewing industry. It has been empty since 1985. Sud-Ouest Borough Mayor Véronique Fournier has said previously that she felt it was necessary to ensure that the emergency demolition of part of the site was justified before it could proceed. The developer, a subsidiary of Renwick, has plans to redevelop the site with 685 housing units, 20 per cent of which will include social housing. It has also committed to preserving the iconic pink house that currently sits atop the Montreal landmark. The plan also includes green spaces, food outlets, a supermarket, and a pharmacy. “The owner remains committed to continuing the dialogue with residents and local stakeholders in order to develop a project that respects the identity of the site and the needs of the neighbourhood,” the developer added. With files from CTV News’ Swidda Rassy
