1, Avenue du Port
The Cold Warehouse, a fourteen-storey building, was built in 1922. It is not its seniority which gives it importance but rather its role in commercial infrastructure of the city which is a key witness in the evolution of the old wharf.
The refrigerated warehouse has played an important role because this is where perishable foodstuffs in transit, meats, fruit and vegetables, were kept. Ammonia compressors provided a constant temperature. On the roof, four towers hid a fire protection system. The warehouse has worked until 1965 and one of the towers was used to store brine. Thirteen years later, in 1978, any commercial operation had ceased. The building was vacant for several years.
In 1996, the Government of Canada recognized it as an historic monument. A contractor began the transformation of the building into condominiums. It was a bankruptcy. Finally the Real Estate Management Trams has completed the project and 207 housing units were created. The transformation of the warehouse took place under supervision to keep intact its historic cachet. The old tours on the roof became four penthouses that have a castle look, with a magnificent view on the river and the city. Of course the interior had to be adapted to the new vocation of the building. On the outside, the making of windows in the brick walls resulted in a loss of authenticity and originality.
It is now known as L’Héritage.
