Montreal's Place Versailles says it's not getting demolished anytime soon

If you've been wondering when Place Versailles will be knocked down and replaced by condos, the mall wants you to pump the brakes.

Despite headlines and online chatter about the demolition of Montreal's oldest shopping centre, the owners of Place Versailles say there's no need for shoopers to panic, at least not yet.

In a message recently posted to its website, the east-end mall reassured customers that there's no wrecking ball in sight.

"The redevelopment of Place Versailles is currently in the planning phase. There is no imminent demolition planned,” reads the French statement, which comes in response to a recent wave of concerned calls and confusion about the timeline. The post also confirms that any transformation will happen in stages over the next several years, and that the mall will continue operating as a local shopping hub in the meantime

This update follows months of buzz about a major redevelopment that's set to completely reshape the site over a 25-year period. As reported by MTL Blog back in May, the $2.2-billion project will eventually turn the mall and its sprawling parking lot into a dense, mixed-use neighbourhood featuring thousands of housing units, parks, a school, and even an on-site hotel.

The full plan, approved by city council in May 2025, includes:

• Around 5,805 housing units, including 979 social housing units
• Commercial spaces for local and regional businesses
• 48,000 square metres of office and hotel space
• Three public parks and a school
• New buildings between 6 and 25 storeys tall

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 in the mall's northeast section. But until then, the Place Versailles you know — kitschy charm and all — isn't going anywhere.

This story was adapted from the article "Démolition de la Place Versailles : Le centre commercial rassure ses clients," which was originally published on Narcity Quebec.

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