Tenants in the South West borough got a nasty post-Christmas surprise - an eviction notice, since their new landlords are changing their building into an apartment hotel.
Dino Diorio has lived in his Notre Dame West apartment in Little Burgundy for eight years, long before some of the trendy shops and restaurants that are there now came along.
"I'm surprised but not surprised. It's something that we sort of expected when new owners come in," said Diorio in an interview with CJAD 800.
"They shouldn`t be allowing this. They should put a moratorium and stop this, maybe case by case."
Tenant evictions in Little Burgundy to make way for an apartment hotel: Dino Diorio has lived in the neighbourhood on Notre Dame W. for eight years. He says there should be a moratorium on such conversions. #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/kTDc9t0SrP
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) January 15, 2019
City councillor Craig Sauvé said unfortunately their hands are tied since the zoning there allows it.
"It's disappointing, it's not something we want to see in the borough," said Sauvé.
"We don't want to see this happen. We're looking at the zones where there is potential hotel allowance and to see what the situation is there and whether we can change that."
Plateau Mont-Royal city councillor Alex Norris said there's a disturbing trend of companies taking over apartment buildings in residential areas and converting them.
"What we don't want to see is residential neighbourhoods being emptied out of their residents and converted into tourism neighbourhoods," said Norris.
The boroughs of the Plateau and Ville Marie recently passed bylaws to restrict tourism residences to specific areas, particularly aimed at Air BnB rentals.
Sauvé said it's something they're looking at.
Tenants on this trendy strip of Little Burgundy are being booted from their apartments - the new owners are transforming them into an apartment hotel. #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/N2KtzrJZM6
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) January 15, 2019
Katherine O'Leary, a tenant in the same building as Diorio for four years said they won't leave without a fight.
"I'm gutted," said O'Leary upon learning of the eviction.
Diorio said he doesn't know where he'd go if they lose their contestation of the eviction, adding the sense of community they have now is something you can't buy.
"I would love to live in this neighbourhood but I can't afford it anymore," said Diorio.
"Where are we supposed to go when we've been priced out of our neighbourhood?" said O'Leary.
CJAD 800 News is awaiting comment from the real estate development company in charge of the property.
Tenant evictions in Little Burgundy to make way for an apartment hotel: Katherine O’Leary has been in her Notre Dame W. flat for 4 years but it’s been passed from tenant to tenant for many years. They’re fighting the eviction. #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/urU5OBoDRA
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) January 15, 2019