Ivan-Franko Street

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Thirty residents of a four-storey apartment building on Ivan-Franko Street in Lachine were evacuated Thursday night after fire safety inspectors discovered multiple hazards in the deteriorating structure. The evacuation marks the latest chapter in an ongoing saga of tenant neglect at the property, which was built in 1968.

The Red Cross has temporarily housed the displaced residents in local hotels while the Montreal Municipal Housing Office works to secure permanent accommodations. The emergency evacuation came after city inspectors and the Montreal Fire Department identified serious fire risks in the recently vandalized building.

Living conditions in the 47-unit building, which is now nearly half vacant, had become increasingly dire over the winter months. Residents endured seven weeks without heating or hot water during Quebec’s harsh winter season. Many were forced to rely on portable space heaters, driving up their electricity costs significantly. The building also suffered from extensive mold problems and garbage accumulation in common areas.

Recent attempts to address the heating issues reveal a pattern of escalating problems. The borough took exceptional measures by contracting specialized plumbers to restart the hot water heating system before the coldest weather hit. However, a pipe burst in one of the apartments on Sunday night, requiring firefighters to shut down the system. Shortly after repairs were completed, vandals intentionally cut one of the system’s pipes, causing significant water damage and forcing another shutdown. The borough has committed to emergency repairs given the continuing cold temperatures.

Lachine Mayor Maja Vodanovic detailed the borough’s frustrated attempts to address the situation. Municipal authorities dispatched plumbers three times to restore basic services, but their efforts were hampered by their limited ability to intervene without the property owner’s involvement. The owner, Thi Lan Nguyen, has been unreachable for months, ignoring multiple compliance notices and a formal legal notice from the borough.

Fire safety inspectors found numerous violations during their assessment, including non-functioning elevators and missing smoke detectors in several units. The property’s troubled history is well-documented, with 174 cases filed with the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) since 2013.

The borough is actively working to reach all affected residents, with Mayor Vodanovic urging them to contact her office directly. Officials are particularly focused on helping tenants navigate the TAL process to withhold rent payments and seek compensation for their ordeal. The mayor emphasized the importance of gathering contact information for all residents to ensure they receive necessary support and updates.

To protect taxpayers, the borough has confirmed that all municipal expenses for emergency repairs will be secured through a legal mortgage on the building, ensuring public funds will be recovered. The Montreal Housing Department will provide additional support to help manage the ongoing crisis, though specific details of its involvement have not yet been announced.

The Suburban contacted residents affected by the evacuation for comment but did not receive a response by press time. This is a developing story. Updates to follow. n