property

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Following the Congrégation de Notre-Dame’s (CND) announcement that a real estate brokerage firm has been retained to sell off the vast Domaine Villa Maria estate, the school’s board of directors and management says it “will remain on its current site without compromise.”

“We are determined to remain on our heritage site in order to pursue the educational mission of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame,” said board chair Catherine Maheu. “Given its rich 170-year history, Villa Maria must be central to the issues surrounding the future of the estate, in the interests of our 1,900 current students and the thousands more who could eventually benefit from our unique educational offering, as well as those of our dedicated personnel, and the entire community.”

Maheu notes that the CND made it clear that it was committed to expressly mention in their notice of sale, that the school intends to pursue its activities on the site beyond its current lease, which expires in 2030.

Since the sale of the nearly 2 million square-foot property that straddles Westmount and CDN-NDG was announced last summer, the school has been exploring scenarios to preserve the site’s educational mission. “We have kept all our educational, social and governmental partners abreast of our commitment to ensuring the future of the gem that Villa Maria is. All share our vision to preserve the school as well as the institutional character of the site.”

The land, adjacent to a highway and Métro station in the heart of the city, has long been of great interest to developers, housing advocates and heritage groups, many feeling that given the public ownership origins of the land and benefits users have derived, that it remains of public benefit.

Also located on the site, Marianopolis College purchased its building and property in March.

In December the borough of CDN-NDG said the city is trying to preserve the educational mission. “Clearly the Villa Maria domain has a social and public use,” said borough mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa. “Having schools on that domain is an element that we would want to continue to see for the future.” She reminded residents that the borough holds the levers of urban planning and the zoning which is currently institutional.

The school will not comment further to avoid prejudicing the process as the call for tenders is issued, but says that in its contract with the congregation, Villa Maria has a right of first refusal which it intends to exercise should the need arise. n