Several searches took place Tuesday in Montreal in connection with the illegal demolition last year of a heritage building at Domaine-de-l’Estérel, in Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson.
Investigators from the Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC), assisted by police officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), showed up at various locations during the day, presumably to collect evidence. This is a first of its kind in the history of the ministry.
The MCC is stingy with comments so as not to harm the investigation. “The ministry and its representatives will not answer any additional questions or participate in any interviews, so as not to interfere with the ongoing investigation process,” it was specified. However, citizens who have information to communicate about this case are invited to proceed without delay by contacting the offices of the MCC.
Gilles Boucher, mayor of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, is pleased to see that the investigation continues under the supervision of the SQ. “We, several City employees saw that the demolition continued even though they were told to stop. Guys would tell us, “I do what my boss told me to do.” We even have a video that was clear about what was happening, ”he explained to the Duty.
In the heart of the turmoil
The Olymbec company, owner of the illegally demolished building, is at the heart of the turmoil in this story. Its offices are located on Décarie Boulevard in Montreal. The firm is owned by brothers Richard and Derek Stern, two real estate moguls.
With 300 large buildings, Olymbec claims on its website to be “among the largest private buyers of real estate in North America”.
On May 13, 2022, the Domaine-de-l’Estérel, an Art Deco building unique in North America, was razed by mechanical shovels. The future of the building had raised concerns for several years, despite its classification under the Quebec Cultural Heritage Act.
At the time of the events, the company claimed that the Domaine-de-l’Estérel had been destroyed “accidentally” and “involuntarily”. Witnesses had noted that the blows carried out by the mechanical shovels had continued even after this action had been denounced. Risks of contamination of the surroundings by dust that may contain asbestos had been denounced by the mayor of the municipality, Gilles Boucher. The CNESST got involved and continues to follow this case.
The duty reported that Olymbec purchased several lots in the area one after the other, transactions totaling several million dollars. The company had refused to indicate what real estate projects were planned on the shores of this coveted lake.
A major building
The Ordre des architectes du Québec saw in this building “the cradle of architectural modernity” here. Its lack of maintenance had been denounced several times.
A partial demolition project had just been accepted by MCC representatives when the building was razed in the spring of 2022. France Vanlaethem, professor emeritus at UQAM’s School of Design, opposed it, fearing that he paves the way for the worst.
Built in 1936-1937, this vast Art Deco-style resort complex was originally the project of Belgian Baron Louis Empain. When he bought the land for this construction, the baron, who had become a multimillionaire thanks to African colonization, was not even 30 years old. He entrusts an architect of international reputation with the task of designing a completely extraordinary building. The architect Antoine Courtens, a winner of the Prix de Rome, obtains the contract. The complex was inaugurated with great fanfare in 1938: a grand reception took place in the ballroom with an orchestra conducted by Benny Goodman.
According to information collected by The duty, the action led by the MCC and the SQ is surprising since it has no precedent. The demolition of this building has been decried to the point where the municipality of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson and various organizations plead for its identical reconstruction.