Downtown Montréal's landscape keeps changing — not only through the redesign of its arteries, but also through infrastructure with strong social purpose. The executive committee's approval of the acquisition of the building at 2152 Sainte-Catherine Street West illustrates concrete solutions to homelessness and urban vulnerability.

The site, home to the Evangel Pentecostal Church and previously targeted by a now-cancelled private 14-storey project, is being given a new inclusive purpose.

Led by the Housing Department (SSIH), this $7.5-million transaction secures a prime location for the future development of adapted housing. The immediate proximity of Cabot Square explains the "why" behind this strategic decision: the area is a historic anchor and a key gathering place for First Nations members and Inuit communities in Montréal.

By consolidating its real estate holdings in the heart of the city, the administration shows "how" land acquisition policies can serve as direct levers to support the social fabric.

Project fact sheet:

• Buyer: City of Montréal (Housing Department – SSIH), in planned collaboration with Indigenous partners

• Acquisition: $7.5M plus applicable taxes, from the Evangel Pentecostal Church — draft deed approved October 7, 2026

• Lot: lot 1 064 535, 858.9 square metres, at 2152-2154 Sainte-Catherine Street West, Ville-Marie borough, near Cabot Square

• Purpose: housing and shelter for vulnerable persons, under the Strategy on Housing With and For Indigenous Peoples

• Previous project: a private 14-storey project involving demolition of the church (2021), now cancelled

   

We are following this project and will keep you informed of any important information in our future updates.

This decision reflects a broader urban development vision in which territorial equity becomes a tangible priority.

By turning strategic properties into social housing levers and working upstream to secure land, the city is equipping itself with lasting tools.

This future complex at 2152 Sainte-Catherine Street West promises to be a model of urban collaboration, paving the way for a more supportive, inclusive downtown adapted to the realities of all its residents.