Located on St. Urbain Street between Duluth and Bagg, these much sought after properties outside the McGill ghetto perimeters were first built in the late 1920's. Back then, they housed mainly immigrants who came over from war-torn Europe, many of them finding work right on "the Main" or the "Dickson line" as Mordecai Richler would call it. With each passing year the more affluent of them would open up shops, selling everything from tailored suits to smoked poultry. The very last of these specialty shops are still visible, nestled between trendy boutiques and posh supper-clubs.

These popular "Montreal Heritage" flats with their exterior staircases, high ceilings, intricate wall moldings and colorful facades, typical of the area, were once again brought to Montreal's attention in William Kotcheff's 1974 movie "THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ", based on Mordecai Richler's book of the same title. Leonard Cohen, William Shatner, along with many others were fortunate to grow up in a multitude of cultures and traditions that were offered on "the Main" and the surrounding area.

Family owned since 1965, the first of these charming flats catered largely to Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Eastern block immigrants. For over 24 years McGill students from neighboring provinces, the US, and Europe have made and continue to make these flats their residence while in Montreal.