The Plante administration on Wednesday renewed its support for the legendary La Tulipe concert hall, avenue Papineau, whose survival is threatened by a legal process linked to noise.
“I reiterate my commitment to the owners of ensuring the longevity of La Tulipe,” said Luc Rabouin, mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, during an impromptu press conference at the corner of avenue du Mont-Royal and rue Cartier, Wednesday. “For us, it is an important cultural institution. We recognize its value and we want to ensure that it stays in the Plateau. ”
The performance hall, located for nearly 20 years in the former Théâtre des Variétés by Gilles Latulippe, is facing a request for an injunction which could “cause the premises to be closed unconditionally”, its owner, La Tribu, said on Tuesday. , in a “call for help” published in social networks.
A noise conflict has persisted since the conversion in 2016 of the warehouse adjacent to La Tulipe into owner-occupied residential accommodation. The Tribe claims to have spent “a fortune in fees of all kinds to defend itself” following “dozens of police visits, some accompanied by threats and tickets”.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The La Tulipe concert hall is facing a request for an injunction which could “lead to the closure of the premises unconditionally”.
The City on Wednesday admitted that it “should not have issued a residential status” to the new owner-occupant. “The permit was granted to him by the borough, by mistake,” lamented Luc Rabouin.
According to a document obtained by Press, the “transformation” request for 4518 avenue Papineau was authorized on June 29, 2016 by the head of the planning division, Plateau-Mont-Royal, and the head of the division, permits and inspection, of the City of Montreal. “Acquired right recognized on the warehouse entrance door therefore change of use authorized by right”, we can read.
However, it took some five years for the two officials to notify the owner, Pierre-Yves Beaudoin – during a call and in a letter – that it was an error.
“The permit should not have been issued since the accommodation is adjacent to a performance hall,” writes an official. At the time of its issuance, by-law 2014-06 was in force and did not allow housing to be adjacent to a performance hall. ”
Mr. Rabouin explains that he learned about the dispute last summer. Since then, the municipal authorities have taken “administrative steps to resolve the situation,” he told reporters. Circonspectively, the mayor indicated that the City would be called to testify in the week of December 20.
The official opposition to city hall, in an email, said it was dissatisfied with the political response to the file. “We ask the Plante administration to take concrete action now in order to repair the error made and thus put an end to the resulting legal costs, and to ensure the longevity of La Tulipe, a building classified as heritage. outside and inside, so that the La Tribu team can continue to promote Quebec and Montreal culture ”, reacted Serge Sasseville, spokesperson for culture and heritage and councilor for the Peter district – McGill, in the Ville-Marie borough.
Designated a “heritage monument” by Quebec, La Tulipe is consequently limited in any reconversion scenario. For example, “we cannot turn this place into a pharmacy or a condo,” explained the management in its public release.
The owner of the building at the heart of the dispute, Pierre-Yves Beaudoin, made the headlines in 2016. He called on security guards to evict the tenants of the “Coop sur Généreux”, formerly owned by Gilles Latulippe . His son, Olivier, had just left the accommodation bequeathed by the famous comic.
However, do not count on him to go and demonstrate in front of his father’s former theater. Mr. Latulippe emphasizes being on “good terms” with the buyer. “What is written in the newspapers is not the reality of the trial, it is not quite the real deal,” he explains. It’s complicated: I don’t know how many lawyers are involved. ”
At the most, he would find it “boring” and “sad” that a space for cultural dissemination closes its doors. Otherwise, “I don’t feel touched or saddened or moved, because it leaves me cold like a dog’s muzzle,” says the real estate broker.
He recalls that the performance hall was renamed La Tulipe in 2004 without the permission of his father, who “was still in this world”. “We weren’t even contacted, we weren’t invited to any premieres. My father never went back to the theater. ”
The former lawyer, who does not wish to take a position in the dispute, recalls that “Mr. Beaudoin has invested a lot of money to renovate the building and put tenants there”.
There really is a problem. The tenants of the building, not just Mr. Beaudoin, have the right to peace and quiet. What is happening is a great pity.
Olivier Latulippe
However, he specifies that he did not have to deal with noise complaints when he himself was the owner. “Maybe it depends on the show, the sound engineer?” I have not experienced this problem. Maybe these are new types of shows? ”
It was not possible to consult the court file at the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. The injunction request targets Le cabaret music-hall, an entertainment and artists’ agency, whose main shareholder is Compagnie Larivée, Cabot, Champagne / La Tribu.
We had not been able to reach Mr. Beaudoin at the time of publication.
Concerned artists
Since the public release of La Tulipe, indignant reactions have fired in the artistic community.
“I can not believe that this story has gone so far, for example commented Guy A. Lepage relaying an article from Press on Twitter. The room has been there for 20 years. A new neighbor arrives knowing that he is moving next to a playhouse and he fucks the dog because he hears music. Foolishness. ”
“It is beyond comprehension,” added Louise Latraverse. I played there with Gilles and Olivier Guimond! ! ! ! Beautiful memories ! That the City correct its error as quickly as possible. ”
Tuesday evening, the position of the borough mayor in social networks had not succeeded in allaying fears about the future of the Plateau performance hall.
“The La Tulipe theater is here to stay,” tweeted the one who is also responsible for economic and commercial development in the City of Montreal. The cultural vitality of the Plateau is an asset to be preserved. We have had several discussions with the owners, and are closely monitoring the legal proceedings underway between the two private parties. A solution will emerge. ”
The author and humorist Fabien Cloutier was particularly worried about the role of “spectator” of the Plant administration in the case. “You‟ follow ”legal proceedings which can put La Tulipe and La Tribu in a precarious situation, he replied on Twitter. You think that a solution will “emerge” by taking the role of spectator in a matter for which the City of Montreal is responsible. Sorry. ”
On Wednesday, Mr. Rabouin was unable to explain what the City of Montreal’s recourse would be in the event of a court ruling unfavorable to La Tulipe next week.
– With Louis-Samuel Perron and Mario Girard, Press