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- calendar_today November 13, 2026
Heritage Board Supports Subway Block Restoration Concept
The Subway Block, a well-known piece of downtown Moncton’s architectural history, may soon see new life after more than 15 years of vacancy. Moncton’s heritage board has given its initial support to a proposal to stabilize and partially rebuild the 1917 building, aiming to retain its historic character while addressing serious structural concerns.
Vacant Structure Faces Urgent Repairs
The three-storey Subway Block on Main Street has stood empty for over a decade and a half. Following an October 2025 notice from the City of Moncton, the owners are required to either make the building safe and usable or proceed with demolition. Extensive water and structural damage, including growing cracks in the brick facade and water-soaked interiors due to a leaking roof, have left the building’s condition precarious.
Restoration Plan Calls for Structural Changes
Consultants from Seville Property Group Ltd., the building’s owner, presented the plan to the heritage board on Thursday. It calls for immediate stabilization followed by significant alterations: removing the third floor, moving the rear wall away from the adjacent CN Rail line, and salvaging some of the original facade’s features. Heritage consultant Bill Whalen emphasized the importance of saving the building, despite the challenges posed by its deteriorated state.
Historic and Community Significance
Registered as both a national and municipal heritage site, the Subway Block is noted for its Italianate storefront architecture. According to its historic place listing, it replaced a wooden structure in 1917 to project a modern image of the city to train travelers. Members of the city’s heritage board and local business leaders have recognized the building’s importance to downtown identity. Brian Branch, chair of the heritage board, remarked on both the difficulty and necessity of preserving the city’s aging buildings.
Challenges and Next Steps
Seville Property Group previously considered keeping just the facade with additional residential stories but found the proximity to the CN Rail line unworkable. Consultant Bill Whalen noted that full demolition was also examined but rejected, as a vacant lot would be hard to repurpose. Trace Planning and Design, the firm behind the project’s renderings, reported that some bricks not intended for structural support are now holding up deteriorating exterior walls, while certain interior supports may be reusable. The plan is to rebuild the building’s front to closely resemble the original and retain historic elements like the Subway Block’s name in glass and stone. The rear wall will be shifted about 1.5 metres further from the railway.
Funding, Accessibility, and Community Response
Luc Babineau, Moncton’s director of economic development, indicated that redevelopment funding would be made available. Lawren Campbell, the city’s heritage and culture coordinator, encouraged the inclusion of an elevator for accessibility in the new design. Community leaders and downtown business representatives have expressed optimism for the project, calling it promising for the area’s revitalization. Work to stabilize the building is expected to begin this fall, with detailed design work and permit applications still to come. Construction may commence in the spring, pending tenants and final plans.
Source: cbc.ca.
