The entrance to the Atwater metro station will soon be closed and rebuilt as part of an effort to crack down on criminal activity in Cabot Square.

Between 2011 and 2013, the station accounted for nearly one third of crimes reported at STM stations.

In a statement, STM spokesperson Amelie Regis confirmed the plan, saying the request came from the Ville Marie borough and that work will begin in January and end in September, 2017.

“We will reduce the size of the structure and increase transparency (with windows) to improve security around the building,” said Regis.

The building, the size of two waiting areas, is heated year-round and is meant to provide refuge for bus drivers and nighttime travelers. It will be shrunk as part of the changes.

“It's a house for a lot of activity that we don't want to have in this neighbourhood,” said city councillor Steve Shanahan.

The project is budgeted at $3 million with $1 million of that coming from the city's budget. The STM is also kicking in for the renovation.

Shanahan said that money could be better spent elsewhere. He wants the structure converted to just an emergency exit for the nearby Alexis Nihon Centre. 

"At the same time we have a children's theatre-type thing going on, 30 metres away from there we have drug transactions going on," he said. "It's just incompatible and I truly think the groups are right. Montreal does have to offer more services to help people get out of their bad situations... Spending money to make this smaller is a waste of money. I'd rather give that (money) to groups like RAPSIM and help them make a real impact."

The STM refused further interviews, saying plans are still being developed.

More than $6 million was recently spent renovating Cabot Square, an area that has long been a congregating area for the downtown area's homeless population.

Outreach worker Dave Chapman, who works as assistant director of The Open Door, said the issues homeless people in the neighbourhood face are complex.

“In terms of regular support here, it's been very little on the ground,” he said, adding it will take more than money to solve the problem.

“If enough citizens are actually concerned about homeless people and deeply concerned by their well-being, then we will see changes in a positive direction,” he said.