Montreal housing office plans demolition and rebuild of vacant Parc-Extension seniors building

Montreal’s municipal housing office says a lowcost housing building in ParcExtension that has sat empty for nearly four years will need to be demolished and rebuilt because of major structural problems. The former Habitations JeanValets was cleared in 2022, when 57 senior tenants were told to leave so repairs could be done to the building’s exterior walls, common areas, electrical system and plumbing. The office says earlier renovation plans proved too expensive. The new proposal would add 64 social housing units with rent based on 25% of tenants’ income, plus 52 affordable units. The project has been submitted to federal and provincial housing programs, while local housing advocates are calling for former residents to be given priority and for the site to remain entirely lowcost housing.