Montreal to renew police station lease

Summary#

Montréal’s city council adopted a position in favour of renewing the City’s lease from Développement Vue Phase IV inc. for the neighbourhood police station (PDQ 26) at 7409 avenue Mountain Sights, in Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The lease change would cover 9,000 square feet for 12 years and 22 days, starting March 10, 2026. City staff say the goal is to keep the station operating in the area; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.

  • The proposed lease rent is $5,807,275.72, including taxes. The term runs to March 31, 2038.
  • The space includes 36 parking spaces: 22 at no charge and 14 at $185 per month, according to the staff summary.
  • The landlord must pay for $80,000 plus applicable taxes in work to enlarge the men’s and women’s locker rooms.
  • The agreement was negotiated directly, not through a call for tenders. Other terms of the existing lease remain unchanged.

What it means for you#

  • Police and residents: The lease is for PDQ 26. City staff say that without a renewed lease, the SPVM could not continue its mission in this area. That is staff’s stated assessment, not a guaranteed outcome.
  • Taxpayers: If the agglomeration council approves the lease, the agglomeration would bear the full rent expense through the SSIH operating budget.
  • The City and landlord: The City would rent the space under the amended lease. The landlord would pay for the locker-room work.

Money#

The proposed rent expense is $5,807,275.72, including taxes, over 12 years and 22 days.

  • City staff calculate the rent after tax rebates at $5,302,816.79.
  • The expense would be paid 100% by the agglomeration and charged to the SSIH operating budget.
  • The landlord’s locker-room work is valued at $80,000 plus applicable taxes and is at the landlord’s expense.

What is unclear#

  • The agglomeration council’s final decision is not in these materials.
  • The materials do not include the full lease amendment or explain the unchanged lease terms.
  • The staff summary says the rent was negotiated directly but gives no comparison with other offers or properties.

Case for#

  • Renewing the lease could allow PDQ 26 to continue operating at its current location.
  • The agreement includes locker-room work paid for by the landlord and 22 parking spaces at no charge.
  • City staff say the proposed rent reflects market rates for this kind of space in the area.

Case against#

  • The lease commits the agglomeration to a large rent expense over a long term.
  • The base rent rises by 22.5% from the current rate, according to the staff summary.
  • Because the lease was negotiated directly, the materials do not show how its price compares with competing bids.