Achi news desk-
The City of Montreal has granted a demolition permit to a developer who wants to demolish and build a new residential tower, but the existing building is still occupied by someone who refuses to leave.
The mostly abandoned building sits on the corner of Sainte-Catherine East and Saint-Hubert, right across from Place Emilie-Gamelin.
Carla White has called her small studio apartment home for over ten years.
“When I found this place, I mean it was a godsend. I swear it was a godsend. I remember standing there, saying I can make this work,” White said.
She is the only tenant left in the building; All her neighbors are gone. They ended up doing business with the developer Mondav, who plans to demolish the building.
Mondav wants to build a new tower with more than 170 units.
“We have a great replacement project,” said Michael Owen, senior partner at Mondav. “The first phase will be 176 apartments. The neighborhood is in dire need of renovation.”
White held on. She negotiated with Mondav but rejected their offers.
“First it was $7,500, then it went to $12,000, then it went to $20,000,” White said.
The developer also offered White an apartment at her current rent of $400 a month. She rejected it because she said it didn’t look safe.
Mondav said White’s demands were completely unreasonable.
“At one time, it was huge sums of money in the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Owen said. “Other times it was an apartment, a penthouse apartment with a specific western view and a large balcony.”
Both White and her lawyer, Manuel Johnson, dispute these claims. Johnson says $20,000 doesn’t go very far these days, saying it “might give her stability for a few months, maybe a year,” but then it’ll be back to square one.
“She risks finding herself homeless on the street.”
The City of Montreal granted Mandav a demolition permit.
“Mondev proved that the tenant was offered several relocation options and as a result the permit was granted,” said the mayor’s spokesman.
“The city clearly understands that we tried in good faith, we tried to solve the problem that Ms. White is dealing with,” Owen said.
An eviction notice was served on Witt and she must vacate her apartment by June 30.
“She’s going to be out on the street on July 1st with $1,200 in her pocket. That might be enough for her to put some of her things into storage while she stays at the homeless shelter,” Johnson said.
Johnson says they will try to revoke the permit.
Mondav says he wants to start demolition by September.
