Council approves housing repair reimbursement

Summary#

Montréal city council unanimously adopted an orientation recommending that the agglomeration council authorize a $558,893.22 reimbursement to the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) for work at 1835–1847 avenue Papineau, in Ville-Marie. City staff say the work is needed to maintain the building and affordable, quality housing; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.

  • The proposed reimbursement covers repairs to the building’s exterior stairs and envelope, ventilation systems, and fire systems serving all 33 rooms.
  • The SHDM manages the building and is responsible for awarding, managing and supervising major-work contracts, within a budget agreed with the City.
  • The expense would be funded under an existing agglomeration borrowing bylaw for property acquisition and preparatory work for social housing.

What it means for you#

  • Residents of the building: The work includes bringing the fire systems up to code. This decision does not change rent or tenant eligibility rules.
  • Agglomeration taxpayers: The file says the agglomeration would pay the full expense.
  • People who use or seek social housing: The building was acquired for social housing. The decision does not guarantee a change in the number of homes or who can access them.

Money#

The proposed reimbursement is $558,893.22, taxes included; the staff budget is $518,468.82 net of tax rebates.

  • The staff budget includes work, contingencies, related costs and a 5% SHDM management fee.
  • The file says the expense would be funded under borrowing bylaw RCG24-029 and borne entirely by the agglomeration.

What is unclear#

  • No publicly available information on whether the SHDM sought bids for the work or how any contract was awarded.
  • No publicly available information on the work schedule or how the costs are divided among the different repairs.

Case for#

  • City staff say the repairs are needed soon to keep the building in good condition and maintain affordable, quality housing for vulnerable people.
  • The work includes fire-system upgrades for all 33 rooms, as well as repairs to building systems and the exterior.

Case against#

  • One concern is that the expense would be financed under a borrowing bylaw, while this file does not explain the longer-term cost of that financing.
  • The materials do not provide tender or contract-award details, making it hard to assess how the work’s price was set.