Summary#
Montréal city council approved an 18-month lease extension for the Centre communautaire LGBTQ+ de Montréal at 2075, rue Plessis, starting January 1, 2026. The City will rent the group 2,599.16 square feet for community use for a total rent of $6,242.34, excluding taxes; city staff estimate the rental subsidy at $46,356.02.
- The lease is for 18 months. The amendment also changes the terms for returning the space and includes a 90-day termination clause; the details of those changes are not provided here.
- The tenant must handle the space’s fit-out, cleaning and ordinary repairs. It is not responsible for work to the building structure or its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
- The rent includes operating costs except property taxes.
What it means for you#
- Centre communautaire LGBTQ+ de Montréal: The group can continue using the space under the extended lease, subject to its terms and responsibilities.
- City of Montréal: The City remains the landlord and will record the rent as revenue in the property strategy service’s operating budget.
- Taxpayers: The decision does not set a new tax or fee. The City estimates that the below-market rent amounts to a $46,356.02 property subsidy.
Money#
The City will receive $6,242.34 in rent, excluding taxes, over the 18-month term.
- The decision summary lists total receipts of $7,177.13 including taxes.
- City staff estimate the subsidy by comparing the lease rate of $1.61 per square foot with an estimated market range of $11 to $16 per square foot.
- City staff projected about $25,220 in building operating costs for 2025. The materials do not give an operating-cost estimate for the extended term.
What is unclear#
- The exact changes to the terms for returning the space and the 90-day termination clause are not included in the available text.
- The materials do not explain whether the 2025 operating-cost estimate will continue during the extended term.
Case for#
- City staff say the extension lets the organization continue its community activities while building work is pending.
- Staff say the space is not needed for municipal purposes and that the lease brings in rental income.
Case against#
- One trade-off is that the City is charging substantially less than its estimated market range, resulting in an estimated $46,356.02 subsidy.
- It is unclear how the City’s operating costs during the extension compare with the rent it will receive.