Imagine being stuck in gridlock, late for work, all because of a raging fire in a building you probably never even noticed. That's exactly what happened in Montreal recently, and it highlights a much bigger problem: the fate of our historic buildings versus the relentless march of redevelopment.
On Wednesday, the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, a vital artery for Montreal commuters, was completely shut down due to a massive fire. The culprit? A vacant, historic building located at 1600 De Lorimier Ave, right next to the bridge. The closure, which began at 6:15 a.m., caused significant traffic delays on the city's South Shore during the morning rush hour. As of the latest reports, authorities are unable to give an estimated time for reopening the bridge, as a fire truck placed directly on the bridge continues to pump water onto the flames.
Montreal fire department operations chief Martin Guilbault explained the situation: While the bridge's structure itself isn't directly threatened by the flames, there's a serious concern that the fire-ravaged building might collapse. The intensity of the fire has prevented firefighters from entering the structure, forcing them into a "defensive mode" since the blaze ignited around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday. At its peak, a staggering 120 firefighters were battling the four-alarm fire, which reportedly started on the first floor. The cause remains under investigation, and it's still unknown if anyone was inside the building when the fire broke out.
This isn't just any old building; it's a piece of Montreal's history. Constructed in 1910, the building was first home to Joseph Barsalou, a pioneering soap manufacturer and prominent businessman. Later, in 1935, it was acquired by Procter and Gamble, followed by Familex, a pharmaceutical company owned by Roméo Parent, in 1943, who owned the building for 40 years. But here's where it gets interesting: Héritage Montréal, a local heritage organization, points out that this very building is "best known for the curve in the design it forced on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge."
And this is the part most people miss: Back when the bridge was being planned, Barsalou's soap business was booming. The family famously refused to sell their property to the bridge construction corporation. This act of defiance resulted in the iconic curve we see in the Jacques-Cartier Bridge today, a testament to the building's historical significance. You can still watch a short video about the history of the soap company on the CBC website.
Policy director of Héritage Montréal, Dinu Bumbaru, mentioned recent discussions between the Ville-Marie borough and developers regarding a project to integrate the heritage building into the new Quartier des lumières neighbourhood. This highlights the ongoing tension between preserving Montreal's architectural heritage and the city's push for modernization.
The building is currently linked to Bertone Development Corporation, with Claudio and Michele Bertone listed as beneficiaries. According to their website, the company envisioned the redevelopment project as a way to "reinvent the entrance to the city, proposing to complement the iconic experience of the infrastructure by creating a new signature perspective." In March 2025, the federal government announced a substantial investment of over $278 million to construct 764 rental units in Montreal through the Apartment Construction Loan Program. Notably, $108 million of this funding was earmarked for the construction of 304 units at 1600 De Lorimier, the very site now engulfed in flames.
Unfortunately, this fire isn't an isolated incident. Montreal has seen a worrying trend of fires in vacant buildings in recent years. CBC News obtained data showing that, between 2020 and the end of 2023, 11 out of 80 serious fires (three- to five-alarm) in the greater Montreal area occurred in vacant buildings. This raises some serious questions: Why are these buildings so vulnerable? Are there adequate safeguards in place to protect them, and the surrounding community?
This situation begs the question: Is enough being done to protect Montreal's historical architectural gems, or are they simply seen as obstacles in the path of progress? And who ultimately bears the responsibility when these buildings, slated for redevelopment, go up in flames? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Does this incident change your perspective on the balance between preserving history and embracing new development?
