City extends rent-free office space for a year

Summary#

Montréal city council unanimously set the city’s position in favour of extending the free loan of rooms in the Chalet du Mont-Royal to Les Amis de la Montagne (Mont-Royal) inc. for one year from May 1, 2026. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.

  • The rooms are in the chalet basement at 1196, chemin Camilien-Houde, in Ville-Marie borough, and total about 2,996.67 square feet. They may be used for offices and storage.
  • Les Amis would use seven rooms exclusively and use room N3 one day a week.
  • If work at Maison Smith is completed before April 30, 2027, the agreement would end after 30 days’ written notice to Les Amis.
  • Les Amis would handle housekeeping, setup and ordinary-use repairs in the rooms it uses exclusively. The city would pay energy costs and repairs to the building’s structure and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

What it means for you#

  • Les Amis de la Montagne: The extension would let the organization continue using the rooms rent-free while Maison Smith is under repair. City staff say the organization needs to work on the mountain site.
  • City: It would continue providing the rooms and pay energy costs and specified building repairs. The decision does not change the organization’s separate loan of Maison Smith.

Money#

The estimated property subsidy is $35,331.38 for the one-year occupancy; the rent is free.

  • City staff estimate about $18,460 in 2026 for energy and routine maintenance.
  • Les Amis would be responsible for housekeeping and ordinary-use repairs as described above.

What is unclear#

  • The materials do not give a firm completion date for the Maison Smith work.
  • The full terms of the loan agreement are not included in the materials.

Case for#

  • City staff say the rooms are not needed for municipal purposes, and keeping Les Amis on the mountain avoids the logistical problem of finding temporary space elsewhere.
  • The early-termination provision lets the loan end after 30 days’ written notice if the Maison Smith work finishes early.

Case against#

  • One concern is that the city would provide the rooms rent-free and pay energy costs and some repairs, while the work schedule—and therefore how long the temporary space is needed—remains uncertain.