The City of Montreal is facing criticism for reportedly obstructing the demolition of a long-abandoned church that local religious authorities now describe as a significant danger to the public. The parish responsible for the Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil church states the decaying structure has become a serious safety hazard, yet city officials are blocking efforts to tear it down.
A Building in Peril
According to the parish, the vacant Saint-Eusèbe-de-Verceil church has deteriorated to a point where it poses a direct threat to community safety. The issue gained wider attention after footage from inside the crumbling building circulated on social media platform TikTok, showcasing its advanced state of disrepair. The parish's claims highlight a growing tension between property owners seeking to address derelict buildings and municipal regulations that may delay or prevent such actions.
The core of the dispute centers on the city's refusal to grant permission for demolition. While the specific regulatory reasons for the city's position were not detailed in the initial report, such situations often involve heritage designation considerations, zoning bylaws, or requirements for environmental assessments prior to demolition. The parish, however, argues that the immediate risk the building presents should override other concerns.
Safety Concerns and Social Media Exposure
The viral TikTok video mentioned in the report serves as a stark visual testament to the building's condition. Such unauthorized entries into abandoned properties are themselves a major safety concern, raising the risk of injury or worse for urban explorers. The parish's warning suggests the structure may be unstable, contain hazardous materials like asbestos, or attract other dangerous activities.
This case is not isolated in Montreal or other Canadian cities with aging religious architecture. Many churches, facing declining congregations and high maintenance costs, are left in a legal and financial limbo. The challenge for municipalities is balancing the preservation of historical or architecturally significant buildings with the practical and safety needs of neighbourhoods.
Looking for a Resolution
As of January 17, 2026, the standoff continues. The parish, represented in the report by journalist Stephane Giroux, is publicly urging the city to reconsider its position to avert a potential tragedy. A resolution will likely require negotiations that address both the urgent safety issue cited by the parish and any legitimate planning or heritage preservation goals held by the City of Montreal.
The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how Montreal handles other decaying structures. It underscores the complex responsibility of city governments to manage urban decay while ensuring public spaces remain safe for all residents. The community now waits to see if the city will facilitate the demolition or propose an alternative solution to secure the hazardous site.
