Montreal Mile-Ex artists fear losing studio space to redevelopment

Artists in Montreal’s MileEx neighbourhood are worried they may lose a longstanding studio building at 435 Beaubien Ave. W. if a redevelopment plan moves ahead. The fourstorey brick building, built in 1919, has housed design, printing, music and other creative workshops for years. Tenants say the space has been important for keeping rents low enough for artists and small businesses to operate in the area. The redevelopment proposal would replace the building with two connected towers containing rental housing, commercial space and some workshop areas. Outremont borough officials say they are negotiating with the owners to relocate artists during construction and to preserve some affordable studio space in the new project. Tenants say they have been told informally to leave by the end of the summer and worry they will not be able to afford comparable spaces elsewhere. The building owners say the property is too deteriorated to renovate and have said they will help cover moving costs and support tenants in finding new spaces.