Le William (373 rue des Seigneurs)

Picture Montreal's factories in the late 1800s: machines driven by long leather belts, and someone had to make those belts. At the corner of rue William and rue des Seigneurs, that was here. The Robin and Sadler Co. produced leather belting, fire hose and lace leather on this site. The brick building, set on a stone base, still stands.

Built in the mid-1890s, the factory is one of the buildings the City of Montreal cites as part of the industrial heritage north of the Lachine Canal. In 2013, Figurr collectif d'architectes turned it into 17 lofts, adding two storeys set back from the street. It became the heart of the Le William complex, flanked by two new buildings.

Inside, the factory still shows in the brick walls, the wood plank ceilings, the original beams and columns. Your eye travels up to ceilings of 9.5 to 12 feet depending on the floor. Lofts range from 766 sq ft to 1,526 sq ft. At the top, some penthouses stretch over two levels and open onto a private terrace.

Shared life happens on the roof: a heated outdoor pool, an urban chalet and common terraces, with a gym and indoor parking below.

Outside is Griffintown. Rue Notre-Dame Ouest is steps away, with its cafés and restaurants. The Lachine Canal bike path is a few streets south. Georges-Vanier metro is a 13-minute walk.

The 373 speaks to people who want the brick and wood of a real factory, in a building of about twenty lofts, with the amenities of a larger complex.

Every loft has a story. Le William's begins with the leather belts that once turned Montreal's factories. Our job is to help you find the one that becomes yours. Olivier Mailloux and Amélie Flanagan, real estate brokers, follow the Griffintown loft market closely and work with buyers and sellers across Montreal.