Preservationists are concerned about one of the “last buildings still in good condition from Expo 67,” which Loto-Québec wants to get rid of.
Published at 10:45 p.m.
The former Universal Exhibition Art Museum, located not far from Habitat 67 on Avenue Pierre-Dupuy, has been published on the website of real estate agent CBRE. The paper hinted at the possibility of subdividing the property without ever mentioning the building itself.
However, it has a rich history: in 1967 it housed works by the big names of the artistic avant-garde, before becoming home to the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art for almost 25 years.
The property offer was finally withdrawn in mid-September, “at the request of the seller and for reasons beyond our control,” CBRE stated. “The sales process for 2190 Avenue Pierre-Dupuy is temporarily suspended until November 30, 2023.”
Loto-Québec has decided to put its building on Avenue Pierre-Dupuy up for sale because it no longer meets its needs and involves high maintenance costs.
Renaud Dugas, spokesman for Loto-Québec
“For over a year, we have been communicating with various government agencies and stakeholders to gauge their interest in this building,” he continued. A partner recently reached out, so we put the sale on hold while we continued discussions. » Mr. Dugas did not want to reveal the identity of the partner in question.
Integrated into Jean Drapeau Park?
In an interview with Radio-Canada, Société du Parc general manager Jean-Drapeau confirmed that the sale had been halted at their request. She is considering the possibility of turning this building into a reception pavilion for the nearby park.
“We see it that way [faisant] “It is an integral part of the park, considering that it is part of the then Expo 67 area,” said Véronique Doucet. “We can imagine all sorts of things, such as the autonomous shuttle, the small electric bus or even micromobility, that would allow people to enter the park with an experience.” »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The Jean-Drapeau Park Society could convert the former Universal Exhibition Art Museum into a reception pavilion for the park.
Lucette Lupien, a resident of Habitat 67 who sometimes represents residents of her building in public consultations on the sector, fears that if the former Expo 67 art museum is sold to a private developer, it will have to make way for a high-rise residential construction.
It was architects from Quebec who designed this building. […]. Architecturally and spatially it was extremely innovative.
Lucette Lupien, resident of Habitat 67
“If we don’t protect it, your grandchildren will have nothing of the legacy of the 1950s to 1970s. Here we were lucky to have Expo 67, an event that took us into the modern era in Quebec.” »
“A Major Problem”
Other preservationists are also worried about the future of the former Expo 67 art museum.
Roger La Roche, an expert on the memory of Expo 67, judges that selling the building to private interests would be “very, very bad news”.
“The building is empty. The building has pyrite problems. The building deserves a significant investment if we want to preserve it,” he said in a telephone interview. “I can understand Loto-Québec’s desire to get rid of it, but it is really a big problem. » The property is residential with significant allowable heights, which could attract real estate developers.
Dinu Bumbaru from Héritage Montréal is also concerned.
“On the one hand, there is the interest of the building as a former art museum of Expo 67 (a request for classification was sent to the Minister of Culture in 2019),” he emphasized. “On the other hand, with permitted heights of around 20 floors, there is a risk of Griffintownization. Some citizens have asked us about this issue. »
The withdrawal of the real estate file is “good news,” he added.
Another legacy of Expo 67 put on hold
The art museum is not the only legacy of Expo 67 whose future is currently a cause for concern. After the Pitoune, the Minirail and the Galopant, a fourth ride from this era was rejected from La Ronde.
La Spirale, a 73-meter-high observation tower with a circular gondola, never reopened after the pandemic. It is no longer on the official list of amusement park rides.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
La Spirale (center) did not reopen after the pandemic.
“No decision has been made regarding its future,” said Marie-Pier Haineault, the amusement park’s communications manager. “There will be no decision before the end of the season. » According to Ms. Hainault, “all options are being examined” other than destroying the ride.
“It is the last of La Ronde’s legendary rides to be put aside,” lamented Roger La Roche, an Expo 67 expert.
“This is also a ride that has not been maintained over the years. If we don’t maintain assets, they will naturally deteriorate. And we are always shocked by the unsurprising situation: they no longer work,” criticized Julie Bélanger, leader of a group dedicated to the memory of the World Exhibition. “It is unfortunate because it is a predictable situation. It’s always the same scenario repeating itself. »