Calls

IMPACTE Program: Centre Saint-Paul

Call for proposals

May 11, 2023

The Ville de Montréal launches the first public call for proposals under the Initiative montréalaise en vue de la Protection, l’Amélioration et la Conversion des immeubles patrimoniaux excédentaires dans un contexte d’excellence en Transition Écologique (the Montréal initiative for protection, enhancement and repurposing of surplus heritage properties in a context of green transition excellence, known by its French acronym IMPACTE).

Centre Saint-Paul

The first property to benefit from the program will be the building formerly known as Centre Saint-Paul, located at 1604-1606 Avenue de l’Église and 5505 Rue Angers in Sud-Ouest Borough. Part of the institutional hub of the Côte-Saint-Paul heritage site (recognized in 1990), Centre Saint-Paul is a jewel among Montréal’s buildings of heritage. Constructed from 1910 to 1912 to plans by architect Joseph-Émile Vanier, the building comprises two juxtaposed portions : the former Côte-Saint-Paul City Hall and Fire Station No. 32. There are two floors above grade plus a basement level. The most recent major renovations to the building were in 1995. It has been almost completely vacant since 2015, the only exception being a disppay of vintage firefighting vehicles that was housed in the garage of the former fire station until 2020.

Purpose of the call for proposals

With this public call for proposals, the Ville de Montréal will canvass the Québec-wide market for proposals for the preservation and repurposing of Centre Saint-Paul. The purpose of the call is to sell the property at a fixed price of $1, in exchange for which the selected proponent must pledge to restore, preserve and enhance the built heritage assets, while incorporating into its project actions in support of Montréal’s Climate Plan 2020–2030 and prioritizing inclusion of spaces for community socialization.

Type of projects

There are several challenges to be met, including ensuring the project's reach and reputation beyond the neighbourhood and demonstrating exemplary architectural design, engineering and ecological transition during its implementation.

The proponents are required to submit to the City a plan for the use and functions of the building that fulfils as closely as possible the stated priorities in the call for proposals documents, including:

Preserve, on the exterior, all of the volumes and components of the façades, in particular the roofs and crowns, as well as the windows and storm windows. These components must be restored if their condition allows it, or replaced to their original state;
When redeveloping the site, pay special attention to several elements and components of the building's interior that illustrate its history. These include: the staircase in the hose tower, the embossed tin ceiling cladding, and the radiators;
Address the vision and economic development priorities of Sud-Ouest Borough as stated in the Urban, Economic and Social Development Plan (known by its French abbreviation PDUÉS) for the areas surrounding the Turcot interchange, adopted in 2018;
Prioritize inclusion of spaces for community socialization as part of the project;
Incorporate as many of the principles of the Montréal 2030 Agenda for Quality and Exemplarity in Design and Architecture as possible;
Contribute to achievement of several actions of Montréal’s Climate Plan, including the following six priority actions:
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction
- Nature in the city
- Sustainable mobility
- Zero waste
- Green and inclusive economy
- Living environments and proximity