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Montreal, January 27, 2011 On November 8, 2010, a majority of VilleMarie borough

councillorsadopteda resolutionauthorizingazoningvariance for the siteofRedpathHouse,

locatedat34553457DuMuseAvenue,thusallowingarealestatedevelopertobuildahigh

rise25

metres

tall.

This

variance

does

not

respect

current

municipal

by

laws,

which

limit

the

heightofbuildingstoamaximumof16metres.

Inrecentweeks,this issuehasbeenofgreatconcerntotheBoardofTrusteesoftheMontreal

MuseumofFineArts(MMFA).GiventhemajorimpactthisprojectwouldhaveontheMuseum

and its historic neighbourhood, the MMFAs Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a

resolution,on Tuesdaynight, callingon councillors from theVilleMarieborough todefeata

proposedbylawthatwouldauthorizetheconstructionofabuilding25metreshighonthesite

ofRedpathHouse,locatedat34553457DuMuseAvenue,anddemandingthatthedeveloper

respect thezoning standards inplace, that is, tobuild toamaximumheightof16metres. In

addition,theMuseumsBoardaskedthatanyrealestatedevelopmentinthissectorrespectthe

zoningby

laws

in

effect.

Inthefallof2011,theMontrealMuseumofFineArtswill inauguratethenewClaireandMarc

BourgiePavilionofQuebecandCanadianArtandanew450seat concerthall in the former

ErskineandAmericanChurch,anationalheritagesitethattheMuseumacquiredtosafeguard

andrestore.

Thenewpavilionsdesign isbasedonanascent towards light,with fenestration that reveals

moreandmoreoftheurbanlandscapeasthevisitorascends,withatopfloorfeaturingalarge

glassedingallerythat looksoutontoMountRoyal,thejewelofourcity.Theconstructionofa

highriseover 16metres tallon the siteofRedpathHouse,nextdoor to theMuseumsnew

pavilion,

would

mar

the

architectural

design

of

the

Museums

new

galleries

and

spoil

the

view

of

themountain. Itwouldalsosetadangerousprecedent forotherhighrises inthissector.This

architectural conceptwas specifically chosen for theMuseums new pavilion because itwas

unthinkablethatsuchazoningvariancewouldeverbegranted.

Thispavilionwillbeaccessiblefreeofchargetoallatalltimes,whichwillallow600,000people,

including many tourists, to discover our artistic heritage. Thanks to the support of the

governmentsofQuebecandCanadaandmanydonors,theMuseumchosetoreviveaheritage

building, as theMuseumsmissiondovetailsbeautifullywith the revitalizationof the church.

Thisendeavour representsamajor investment in thebeautificationofMontreal. It isalsoan

architecturalconversionthatwillserveasanexampleontheinternationalstage,asfewprojects

suchasthesehavebeencarriedout intheWesternworld,andthealarmingstateofreligious

heritagein

Quebec

is

well

known.

ArchitectsProvencherRoyetAssocisandMuseummanagementhaveworkedonthisproject

forseveralyearstomeettheCityszoningrequirementsandensurethatthenewbuildingfitsas

harmoniously as possible into the Museum neighbourhood, which is located in Montreals

historic SquareMile. Over the past few years, the Museum has held several meetings with

representatives of the City of Montreal, neighbourhood residents and Du Muse Avenue

residents, inordertomeeteveryonesexpectations.Throughouttheproject,theMuseumhas

respected the Citys zoning standards and adapted the project to meet municipal bylaws,

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requests from the neighbourhood and the Citys advisory committees, assuming that the

mountainviewwouldremainunobstructed,giventhe factthatmunicipalbylawsprohibit the

constructionofbuildingshigherthantheestablishednorms.Itisimperativethatzoningbylaws

be respected by all realestate developers in this sector so that the Museum and its

neighbourhoodarenotadverselyaffected.

TheMuseumsBoardofTrusteeswas therefore surprised to realize that theCityofMontreal

had

granted

a

developer

a

zoning

variance

for

the

site

of

Redpath

House,

just

a

few

dozen

metresfromtheMuseumsnewpavilion.Notonlydoesthisdecisionruncountertothezoning

bylaws intheMuseumneighbourhood, itmaysetadangerousprecedentfortheMuseum, its

600,000visitorsand itsneighbourhood.TheMuseum isnotagainsttheconstructionofanew

building on the site of Redpath House, but asks that the zoning bylaw that limits building

heightsto16metresberespected.

TheMuseumhasdemonstrated itscommitmentasacorporatecitizenandacted ingoodfaith

bychoosingtosaveandrestoretheformerErskineandAmericanChurch,whichwill integrate

thenewPavilionofQuebecandCanadianArt.Thisproject,theonlyoneof itskind inCanada,

hasaddedtothewealthofourcitysarchitecturalandartisticheritageandhasbeenawarded

the2010CanadianArchitectAwardsofExcellence.

Source:DanielleChampagne

DirectorofCommunications

TheMontrealMuseumofFineArts

5142851600 201103