Outremont's last artist studios face demolition as affordable workspace disappears

A 1919 brick building at 435 rue Beaubien Ouest in Outremont has sheltered 120 artists and artisans for years — musicians, painters, ceramicists, tatooers, fashion designers. Now it's being demolished to make way for an 11-storey residential complex.

The building, which occupies 27,000 square feet near the University of Montreal's MIL campus, has become one of the last affordable artist hubs in central Montreal. Hannah Isolde Goodman, a fashion designer who has run her label there for a decade, shares an 800-square-foot studio with four other artisans. "The abordability of these studios allowed me to start and develop my practice," she said.

Owners Hillpark Capital and developer Mondev plan to replace the structure with 176 rental units—mostly 3½s and studios—plus commercial space. Demolition is expected within months. While the developers promised to help artists find new spaces, the options presented so far cost double current rents or sit in less central neighborhoods.

Goodman, recently back from parental leave, worries both about her business and the loss of the creative community. "I don't want to lose my enterprise, but I feel there are many barriers in front of me," she said. The building's advanced deterioration—including condemned toilets and roof leaks—justifies the demolition according to Hillpark, which cited safety issues and the impracticality of renovation.