Site of deadly Old Montreal fire put up for sale

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Posted By: jasabacklink January 23, 2024

The owner is asking $2.95 million for the lot, which “requires cleanup and reconstruction.”

Published Jan 23, 2024  •  Last updated Jan 23, 2024  •  1 minute read

The site, on Aug. 28, 2023, of the March 2023 fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette files

The burned-out carcass of the Old Montreal building that caught fire last year, killing seven people, has been put up for sale.

A listing on Proprio Direct is asking $2.95 million plus taxes for the 5,158-square-foot lot at 224 Place D’Youville, saying it “requires cleanup and reconstruction.”

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The building, built in 1890 by William Watson Ogilvie, went up in flames on March 16, 2023, resulting in the deaths of seven people. The fire is being investigated as arson after evidence of accelerant was found, and a convicted killer on the lam was spotted at the site minutes before the fire began.

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A provincial coroner’s inquiry into the fire is suspended until the criminal investigation is completed.

“LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!” reads the listing, first spotted by La Presse, adding the heritage site has “great potential with various usages permitted by the city. It can be 100 per cent commercial or 100 per cent residential use or mixed use.”

  1. A fire broke out before 6 a.m. in a three-storey condo complex in Old Montreal.

    A fire broke out before 6 a.m. in a three-storey condo complex in Old Montreal.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  2. Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.

    Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  3. Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

    Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal on Thursday, March 16, 2023.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  4. Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.

    Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  5. Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.

    Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  6. Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.

    Montreal firefighters at scene of fire on du Port St. in Old Montreal March 16, 2023.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  7. Montreal fire officials confirmed March 20, 2023, that the body they found in the rubble of an Old Montreal fire Sunday was that of a woman. There are six more people missing.

    Montreal fire officials confirmed March 20, 2023, that the body they found in the rubble of an Old Montreal fire Sunday was that of a woman. There are six more people missing.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  8. Montreal fire officials confirmed March 20, 2023, that the body they found in the rubble of an Old Montreal fire Sunday was that of a woman. There are six more people missing.

    Montreal fire officials confirmed March 20, 2023, that the body they found in the rubble of an Old Montreal fire Sunday was that of a woman. There are six more people missing.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  9. Montreal fire officials confirmed March 20, 2023, that the body they found in the rubble of an Old Montreal fire Sunday was that of a woman. There are six more people missing.

    Montreal fire officials confirmed March 20, 2023, that the body they found in the rubble of an Old Montreal fire Sunday was that of a woman. There are six more people missing.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  10. Montreal firefighters and members of a demolition crew work on Wednesday March 22, 2023 amid the wreckage of the Old Montreal building ravaged by fire last week.

    Montreal firefighters and members of a demolition crew work on Wednesday March 22, 2023 amid the wreckage of the Old Montreal building ravaged by fire last week.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  11. Old Montreal fire

    Firefighters continue to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  12. Montreal firefighters and members of a demolition crew consult Wednesday March 22, 2023 at the scene of last week's Old Montreal fire.

    Montreal firefighters and members of a demolition crew consult Wednesday March 22, 2023 at the scene of last week’s Old Montreal fire.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  13. Firefighters continue to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette

    Firefighters continue to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Dave Sidaway / Montreal GazettePhoto by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  14. Firefighters continued to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday.

    Firefighters continued to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  15. Firefighters continue to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023.

    Firefighters continue to investigate the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  16. Yukun Zeng speaks to reporters about his missing friend An Wu at the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023.

    Yukun Zeng speaks to reporters about his missing friend An Wu at the scene of the fire in Old Montreal on Tuesday March 21, 2023.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  17. A memorial has appeared at the scene of a fatal fire in Old Montreal. Several people are still unaccounted for after Thursday's blaze.

    A memorial has appeared at the scene of a fatal fire in Old Montreal. Several people are still unaccounted for after Thursday’s blaze.Photo by Graham Hughes /The Canadian Press

  18. An Wu, a neuroscientist from the University of California San Diego, is believed by her family to be one of the people missing after a building in Old Montreal was destroyed by a fire March 16, 2023.

    An Wu, a neuroscientist from the University of California San Diego, is believed by her family to be one of the people missing after a building in Old Montreal was destroyed by a fire March 16, 2023.Photo: Facebook

  19. Charlie Lacroix, 18, is believed by her family to be one of the people missing after a building in Old Montreal was destroyed by a fire March 16, 2023.

    Charlie Lacroix, 18, is believed by her family to be one of the people missing after a building in Old Montreal was destroyed by a fire March 16, 2023.Photo: GoFundMe

  20. Firefighters continue the search for victims Monday, March 20, 2023 at the scene of last week's fire that left at least seven people unaccounted for in Old Montreal.

    Firefighters continue the search for victims Monday, March 20, 2023 at the scene of last week’s fire that left at least seven people unaccounted for in Old Montreal.Photo by Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press

  21. MONTREAL, QUE.: MARCH 21, 2023 -- Les Immeubles Emile Benamor, on Berri Street, on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Emile  Benamor, who owns that company, is also owner of the building in Old Montreal gutted by fire last week. (Pierre Obendrauf / MONTREAL GAZETTE)

    MONTREAL, QUE.: MARCH 21, 2023 — Les Immeubles Emile Benamor, on Berri Street, on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Emile  Benamor, who owns that company, is also owner of the building in Old Montreal gutted by fire last week. (Pierre Obendrauf / MONTREAL GAZETTE)Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  22. Two bodies were removed from the fire scene in Old Montreal March 27, 2023.

    Two bodies were removed from the fire scene in Old Montreal March 27, 2023. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  23. A crane is poised over the Old Montreal fire scene March 26, 2023.

    A crane is poised over the Old Montreal fire scene March 26, 2023.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

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The family of Charlie Lacroix, an 18-year-old woman who died in the fire, is suing the city and the building’s owner, Emile Benamor, and an alleged operator of illegal Airbnbs in the building.

Randy Sears, who lost his son Nathan in the fire, filed an application in March to launch a class-action lawsuit against Benamor, Airbnb and the alleged Airbnb operator in the building.

Benamor, meanwhile, has filed a $7.6-million lawsuit against the city, saying city regulations for heritage properties made it impossible for him to carry out modifications or repairs to the building. Several fire safety inspections found issues with the building, which Benamor claimed heritage rules prevented him from fixing.

The Pointe-à-Callière archeology and history museum, which owns the building next door at 214 Place D’Youville that was damaged in the fire, is also suing the city for $3 million.

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