The city is looking for ways to revitalize Old Montreal's Silo #5 (RENDERINGS)
The Old Port of Montreal is undeniably beautiful but there is one building that sticks out as an eyesore: Silo #5.
Though historic, the silo, owned by the Canada Lands Company, has stood abandoned since 1996 and is suffering from a lack of maintenance and zero public access.
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Silo #5 (not to be confused with Lou Bega’s 1999 smash hit “Mambo #5”) is the last vestige of Old Montreal’s 20th-century grain exportation.
The heritage site, completed in 1906, has been recognized by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office.
Montreal’s Minister of Tourism, Mélanie Joly, on behalf of the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility and the Old Port of Montreal Corporation has launched a request for proposals to revitalize the Pointe-du-Moulin and Silo #5 sector and transform it into an “emblematic project for the city,” according to a statement.
More than 25 years since its closure, the old silo is being requested to be transformed into a mixed-use district where residences, shops, hotels and tourist attractions can coexist.
The announcement marks the beginning of a process that will last seven months that will allow the committee to evaluate how to go forth with a project that would be the most “inspiring project for Montreal.”
The committee plans to enhance the industrial history of both Pointe-du-Moulin and Silo #5 while preserving the building’s historic integrity.
Even as it stands decrepit, Silo #5 offers spectacular views of the city, Mont-Royal, the Lachine Canal and the Montérégie region.
“The time has come to breathe new life into Silo 5 and Pointe-du-Moulin,” says Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and Francophonie. “Today, we are launching the search for a project that reflects Montréal: ambitious, creative and proud of its rich heritage. This project will have a positive impact on the development of the city and improve its tourism offer.”
Canada Lands Company posted two renderings of the site’s potential construction zone and a look at green space and a revamped structure:
“This is the beginning of a flagship project for Montréal and eagerly awaited by Montréalers. This is a strategic area of the city that is being revitalized to meet the needs and aspirations of Montréalers,” added Mayor Valérie Plante.