The residential renaissance of Montréal’s old industrial districts

As the cradle of industrialization in North America, Montréal's former industrial districts are constantly evolving. Following the wave of conversions of old textile factories into office lofts in the 2000s and 2010s, we are now witnessing another form of revitalization: the demolition of obsolete industrial buildings to make way for new residential complexes.
Since 2010, more than 8.1 million square feet (msf) of industrial buildings have been demolished or will be. In general, these properties were constructed in the 1950s or earlier. Nearly half (46%) of this inventory has been replaced by multifamily projects totalling 8,143 new rental units or condominiums. The largest number of units were built in the Sud-Ouest sector (2,986), followed by the boroughs of Saint-Laurent (997) and Lachine-Lasalle (945).
Several other dilapidated industrial sites are slated for redevelopment, particularly in the future Bridge-Bonaventure neighbourhood. The industrial inventory on the Island of Montréal still has 18.4 msf of buildings constructed before 1950, which represent 9% of the total inventory of the island. These properties, often located in the most densely populated neighbourhoods, offer potential for redevelopment and value creation in a context of high demand for housing.

September 30, 2025

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