Summary#
Montréal city council approved a two-year lease extension with Groupe Écorécréo inc., starting February 1, 2026. The City will rent the company 2,265 square feet of office space on the third floor of Marché Bonsecours, at 350 rue Saint-Paul Est, for a total rent of $105,951.51, excluding taxes.
- The lease runs through January 31, 2028.
- The City may end the lease by giving the tenant 90 days’ written notice.
- The tenant must pay for fitting out, maintaining and cleaning the space, and for repairs caused by normal use.
What it means for you#
- Groupe Écorécréo inc.: The company can continue using the offices for two years. It must pay property taxes in addition to rent. The rent also excludes sales taxes.
- Montréal residents: The decision brings rental income to the City. It does not create a new public service or change residents’ rights.
- The City: It remains responsible for operating costs included in the rent, such as energy and building operations. The lease does not require the City to keep renting the space for the full term, because it can terminate with 90 days’ notice.
Money#
The lease provides for $105,951.51 in rent before taxes; the decision summary reports $121,817.75 including sales taxes.
- Property taxes are payable by the tenant on top of the rent; the amount is not stated.
- Operating and energy costs are included in the rent. City staff estimated 2025 operating costs for the space at about $37,000, including energy, routine maintenance and security. That figure is not an estimate for the new lease period.
What is unclear#
- The full lease terms are not included in the supplied material.
- The amount of property taxes payable by the tenant is not stated.
- City staff do not provide an estimate of the City’s operating costs or net rental income over the new two-year term.
Case for#
- City staff say the space is not needed for municipal purposes, so renting it brings in revenue while it is not required for City use.
- City staff put the rent at $23.63 per square foot, excluding property taxes, within their stated range of $20 to $30 for comparable space.
Case against#
- The City’s operating costs are not fully set out for the lease period, so the materials do not show the net income after those costs.
- The City can end the lease on 90 days’ notice, but the materials do not explain how that option would affect the tenant.