st-henri triplex that collapsed next to construction site was selling for $1.3 million
a construction permit for a building on the neighbouring lot was issued just a week before the collapse occurred, according to a post on agora montréal.
aug 27 2024
2 minute read
a partial building collapse on cazelais st. in st-henri.
dave sidaway
/
montreal gazette
the exterior wall of a triplex in st-henri collapsed onto an adjacent construction site monday afternoon, exposing the inside of the apartments much like a dollhouse.
the montreal fire department received a call about the collapse on cazelais st., just below the ville-marie expressway, a little after 1:30 p.m.
“luckily, no one was injured or worse, killed,” said division chief george bele. he added that neighbouring buildings were evacuated as a preventive measure.
the collapse occurred beside a large hole that had been dug out in the lot to the west, which as of tuesday remained full of debris that came down from the apartments.
“the question i have gotten a lot is, ‘why the construction?’ and that, i have no idea,” bele said. “all we know is there was construction, and that the building partially collapsed toward the former parking lot, where there was construction.”
4833-4837 cazelais st., in a recent real estate listing, left, and on tuesday.
re/max, dave sidaway
/
montreal gazette
according to a post on agora montréal , a discussion forum on urban development in the city, a construction permit for a three-storey, five-unit building on the neighbouring lot was issued just a week before the collapse occurred.
google street view shows there had been a neighbouring building there years ago, before the revamp of the ville-marie expressway.
the building that collapsed, meanwhile, is currently listed for sale for just under $1.3 million. the listing says the building was constructed in 1910 and comprises three apartments, including two 4 1/2s and one 5 1/2. it says the ground-floor unit was renovated in 2021 and the third-floor apartment, in the spring of 2023.
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lorraine muller was visiting a friend who lives across the street from the building for lunch when the collapse occurred. there was nothing out of the ordinary when she first arrived at about 1:20 p.m., she said.
“we were in the back of her apartment and we sort of heard something, but there’s a lot of construction and a lot of trucks go by in the area because it’s right near the highway,” muller said. “we didn’t really think anything of it and all of a sudden i realized, there’s a lot of chatter going on outside.”
when they looked out the front window, they noticed several people on the street.
“we went outside and there it was: the whole wall had collapsed,” muller said.
she added that it seemed like perhaps the hole in the neighbouring lot had been dug too close to the existing unit.
“you can see, it’s super close to where that supporting wall was,” she said. “i feel like they just hit a bad spot.”
bele said the file was transferred to the city of montreal’s inspection team.
in a statement, sud-ouest mayor benoit dorais said the insurance companies involved will be taking over the file, “which will help identify the cause of the collapse.”
“these events must be avoided and owners have been advised of their responsibility for their building and towards tenants,” he said. “the rest is a matter of private law between the owners.”
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dorais also said affected tenants were relocated either by the owner or by the red cross.
“it was a huge relief to see that no one was injured,” he said.
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