What project will vibrate the walls of the Vieux Palais d’Amos, one of the buildings that the Quebec government had chosen to install one of its Blue Spaces, before abandoning the idea? Moving the municipal library, moving the town hall, creating a pocket theater? Everything is considered, but not at any price, assures Mayor Sébastien D’Astous.
The population learned on March 4 that the Blue Spaces would not see the light of day, but the mayor of Amos was informed earlier, before flying to the Philippines to participate in Survivor Quebec. “We found it quite sad,” he replies in his Amos office.
Sébastien D’Astous believed in the idea of revitalizing the historic building to make it a cultural place that would benefit the entire region and whose exhibitions would be managed by the Musée de la civilization de Québec. “We don’t have the resources in Amos to do an equivalent. It was easier to know that the government would take care of it as part of a grandiose project. Plus, it brought in taxes. »
When we ask him if the City sold the Old Palace to the government at a friendly price in the hope of benefiting from the spinoffs of this cultural and tourist project, he qualifies the situation. “The building has great heritage value, but as there were millions to invest in it, no one would have bought it. It’s worthless from a real estate perspective. »
As of February 29, 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Communications had spent $3.7 million on the Blue Space project in Amos. To acquire the premises, but above all to begin the work – interior demolition to see the extent of the structural problems of the building – and for a call for tenders for the plans and quotes which have been made.
Many organizations had to leave the premises so that the work could be carried out. They were moved to premises rented by the Town of Amos.
A building left to itself
Did the government know that it would abandon the 17 Blue Spaces before undertaking work in Amos? The mayor responded that demolition began more than 18 months ago and that he was only recently notified of the end of the project.
It was by opening the building to understand its problems and by calling for tenders that the government realized the scale of the project. When you do that in heritage buildings, it costs a fortune!
Sébastien D’Astous, mayor of Amos
Since the interruption of work, the Old Palace has been left to its own devices: the walls, floors and ceilings are exposed, and the imposing wooden staircase is covered with planks. Even without activity, its mere existence costs taxpayers money. “The management and maintenance costs of the Old Palace have been estimated at $116,395 annually,” explains Amelia Benattia, press attaché in the office of the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe.
A building left to itself
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF AMOS
The Old Palace of Amos underwent an interior demolition to see the extent of the building’s structural problems.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF AMOS
The walls, floors and ceilings have been exposed since the work was stopped.
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Many Amos residents want the Old Palace to have a new life, but the future of the building – which still belongs to the Museum of Civilization – involves significant costs. Firstly to redo the interior, but also to meet standards (creation of emergency exits, installation of an elevator, entrance allowing universal accessibility).
The City does not have the desire to recover the building in this state. We are in discussions with the museum and the government to have a building that meets standards and is manageable for the City – and potentially an operating budget over the coming years.
Sébastien D’Astous, mayor of Amos
Culture above all?
In a city which has a reputation for investing enormously in culture (6.1% of its budget of just over 50 million), the future cultural vocation at the Old Palace seems inevitable.
However, the mayor is not ruling out any option. “The cultural community wants a pocket theater [en complément du Théâtre des Eskers], but can a town of 14,000 inhabitants afford it? »
Sébastien D’Astous also mentions the idea of moving the town hall or the municipal library there, even if the latter – which is celebrating its 30th this yeare anniversary within the cultural center – meets the needs of the municipality. “I have no interest in moving her to the base. But as it is located in a building that meets standards, which would be easier to sell and convert by a [acquéreur] private person who would like to do something else with it, we could perhaps move the library to the Old Palace and make it a very stylish place. That said, it is not my will. »
Its priority: that the building be maintained and used… without it costing the City more. “Our taxes are already quite high,” he said with conviction.
The spokesperson for the Minister of Culture and Communications suggests that the reflection is progressing. “As the decision to reorient the Blue Spaces project is recent, steps with the various partners in the region are underway,” says Amelia Benattia in an email exchange.
“Discussions are going well,” confirms the mayor. I had two calls about this last Monday and I expect to have answers in the coming weeks. »