MONTREAL – The City of Montreal has announced it will contribute $350,000 of financial support to the organization of the Montreal Impact Academy to restore the former Letourneux fire station’s tower at 4300 Notre-Dame Street Est.
Mayor Denis Coderre and Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough Mayor Réal Ménard made the announcement Thursday.
“Our support for restoration of the old Letourneux firehouse, mentioned in the Urban Plan for its heritage and architectural value, is in line with multiple projects aimed at protecting and highlighting our heritage,” said Coderre.
“We are proud to help give a new life to this architecturally important heritage structure that should be preserved and displayed.”
“I warmly thank and congratulate the Montreal Impact for making huge contributions to improving the quality of life of Montrealers and to enhancing Montreal’s reputation through their team’s successes,” Coderre added.
Following the purchase of the building in early 2015, it was discovered that the steel structure was seriously corroded, as confirmed by professional evaluators.
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“I want to thank Mayor Coderre for this financial help. Thank you also to the mayor of the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, Réal Ménard, who has supported us through every step in this unique project,” said president of the Montreal Impact, Joey Saputo.
“Since the beginning, conservation and respect for heritage were very important factors for us. Our intentions were to build one of the most beautiful soccer training centres in North America, but we also wanted the transformation of the fire station to be an example, not only for soccer but also for any project that can save our heritage.”
The cost of preserving and renovating the former fire station’s tower is estimated at $1.1 million.
The organization will assume full financial responsibility for completing the project with the city’s financial assistance.
The tower restoration work is part of the entire building restoration, estimated at $1.3 million, for a total of $2.4 million.
“The old Letourneux firehouse, built by the former City of Maisonneuve, reminds us of how this municipality expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along with other buildings in the neighbourhood,” said Ménard.
The renovations will allow the Montreal Impact and its Academy to have a permanent training centre with two new illuminated, synthetic soccer fields with stands to be built.
The project, which includes restoring the old firehouse, transforming the welcome station and constructing the four soccer fields, is estimated at $16 million and will be paid by the Montreal Impact Academy.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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