Heritage defenders are worried about one of “the last buildings dating from Expo 67 still in good condition”, which Loto-Québec wants to get rid of.
The former Universal Exhibition Art Museum, located not far from Habitat 67 on avenue Pierre-Dupuy, was posted on the site of real estate broker CBRE. The sheet touted the land’s potential for subdivision, without ever mentioning the building itself.
However, it has a rich history: it hosted works by the big names of the artistic avant-garde in 1967, before housing the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art for nearly 25 years.
The real estate listing was finally withdrawn in mid-September “at the request of the seller, and for reasons beyond our control,” CBRE indicated. “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 generates high maintenance costs.
Renaud Dugas, spokesperson for Loto-Québec
“For over a year, we have communicated with various government agencies and stakeholders to gauge their interest in this building,” he continued. A partner recently came forward, so we put the sale on hold while we continue 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, the general director of the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau confirmed that it was at her request that the sale had been stopped. She is considering the possibility of making this building a reception pavilion for the park, located nearby.
“We see it as [faisant] integral part of the park, considering that it is part of what was at the time the space occupied by Expo 67,” said Véronique Doucet. “We can think of all kinds of things, such as the autonomous shuttle, the small electric bus or even micromobility which would allow people to enter the park with an experience. »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The Jean-Drapeau Park Society could make the former Universal Exhibition Art Museum into a reception pavilion for the park.
Lucette Lupien, a resident of Habitat 67 who sometimes represents the 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 give way to high-rise residential construction.
It was Quebec architects 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 heritage of the 1950s to 1970s. Here, we were lucky to have with Expo 67 an event that brought us into modernity in Quebec. »
” A major problem ”
Other heritage defenders are also worried about the future of the former Expo 67 Art Museum.
Roger La Roche, expert on the memory of Expo 67, judges that putting the building on sale to private interests would be “very, very bad news”.
“The building is vacant. The building has pyrite problems. The building deserves, if we want to preserve it, a significant investment,” he said in a telephone interview. “I can understand Loto-Québec’s desire to get rid of it, but it’s really a major problem. » The land is zoned residential with significant permitted heights, which could attract real estate developers.
Dinu Bumbaru, of Héritage Montréal, is also worried.
“On the one hand, there is the interest of the building as a former Expo 67 Art Museum (a request for classification was sent to the Minister of Culture in 2019),” he underlined. “On the other hand, there is the risk of Griffintownization with permitted heights of around 20 floors. Some citizens have questioned us on this subject. »
The withdrawal of the real estate file constitutes “good news”, he added.
Another legacy of Expo 67 on the back burner
The Art Museum is not the only legacy of Expo 67 whose future is causing concern these days. After the Pitoune, the Minirail and the Galopant, a fourth ride dating from this period was dismissed by La Ronde.
La Spirale, a 73-meter observation tower with a circular pod, never reopened after the pandemic. It is no longer on the official list of amusement park rides.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
La Spirale (center) did not reopen after the pandemic.
“As for its future, no decision has been made,” said Marie-Pier Haineault, communications manager for the amusement park. “No decision will be made before the end of the season. » According to Mme Hainault, “all possibilities are being studied” except the destruction of the ride.
“It’s the last of La Ronde’s iconic rides that is being put aside,” lamented Roger La Roche, Expo 67 expert.
“Again, this is a ride that has not been maintained over the years. Obviously, when we don’t maintain assets, they deteriorate. And we always cringe in the face of the unsurprising situation: they are no longer in working order,” criticized Julie Bélanger, at the head of a group dedicated to the memory of the Universal Exhibition. “It’s deplorable, because it’s a predictable situation. It’s always the same scenario that repeats itself. »