Check out this timely little video report by McGill architecture students Veronica Lalli and Theodore Oyama dealing with the demise of the Negro Community Centre, a Litte Burgundy landmark that was recently razed.
The video has some solid interviews and even contains scenes of the demolition from a few days back.
I haven't had time to watch the whole thing but the organic process of decline, dilapidation and ultimately demolition stems in part from the tax-free status of certain religions and almost-free status of associations as well as the bureaucratic hesitation to rezone from institutional to residential or commercial when need be.
Anyway, to put it in layman's terms, things fall apart. Please feel free to add your take on it in the comments section below.
And this coming hot on the heels of the Redpath Mansion, another 19th century (1886) historical building that was demolished by the city of Montreal this year.
ReplyDeleteIt's a disturbing trend, developers will do anything to build more condos, and damn any old buildings that are in the way. Knowing the rampant corruption in this province, I wouldn't be the least surprised if this judge was bribed with cash.
Look at the 120 year old Franciscan church on Dorchester that was "accidentally" burned down after condo developers were refused the right to demolish it.
Montreal doesn't care to preserve its history, it's all about greed and corruption. As more historic buildings are destroyed, this city becomes less and less unique each day.
This is an old, sad story too often repeated--as well as in earlier sections of this blog.
ReplyDeleteThe owners of such abandoned buildings--who are determined to be rid of them for profit no matter what--ought to be fined for negligence and this does indeed occur in some countries, so why not here?
The "property rights" laws need to be changed to prevent abuse, the same as the existing lax laws concerning puppy mills and fur- animal factories.
It is never explained exactly why such travesties continue for years when surely all it would take would be a majority vote to pass upgraded laws outlawing such abuse.
Who are the governmental ministers responsible and why are they not taken to task more aggressively by pressure groups and the media?
In the U.S., these issues would be on all the talk shows.
I used to play basketball there in the 1984, I recall even then it was super old & the floors creaked louder than any haunted house could.
ReplyDeleteI would advise Heritage Montreal and others concerned with preserving our history to keep their eyes firmly on the former Snowdon Theatre building, recently vacated by a secretive gymnastic club.
ReplyDeleteIf some greedy developer gets their hands on The Snowdon with dreams of erecting another monstrous, overpriced condo, you can be sure it will be allowed to crumble--the despicable fate of too many of our former old theatres.
Can't you just see it coming: "Oops, looks like the roof has caved in.". "Gee, too bad the vandals and squatters have damaged the interior.", or, "How awful some arsonist set fire to the place. I guess we'll just have to knock it down.". :-(