After years of uncertainty, Montreal's oldest stable to come down this week

A foundation that has been fighting for years to save Montreal's oldest horse stable now says the best way to preserve this piece of history in a booming, everchangingGriffintownis by building it anew.

The Griffintown Horse Palaceis set to be demolished Wednesday, but the hope is that the now-dilapidated building will be rebuilt at the same site this fall.

"It's finally going to happen," said Judy Waldon, the last calcheowner and driver to use the 155-year-old stables, as she tended to her horse Princess Monday morning.

"It's going to be a good thing because we'll still be here and when it's all finished there'll be more horses that can join us."

• Group wants to save Griffintown's famous Horse Palace

The stable's structure was determined to be too dangerous to use,sotemporary stables were built last fall to houseWaldon'shorses.

The foundation's vice-president, RobertGirard, says demolition has been in the cards for about a year nowand a permit was issued last week.

"We've tried to save the building and it was not possible. It's way too old ... it could crumble anytime," saidGirard, adding the foundation will try to keep the property's"spirit"with the same amount of space and trees

It will also be rebuilt using recycled materials, such as bricks and beams.

Foundation hopes construction will start thisfall

To Waldon, the stable is an enclave that's been spared the rest of the neighbourhood's rapid change.

"This is one of the few things that has always been here and that is still here,"Waldon said, referring to Griffintown's"booming" development.

She said the new stableswill be modern with more room for the horses.

Renderings of the new designs showwindows people will be able to see the horses through. And Waldon said the new building will allow the animals to stay inside as the weather gets colder

The $450,000 price tag will be split three ways between the foundation, local businesses who've pledged money and the city, if all goes as planned.

The Griffintown Horse Palace, Montreal's oldest horse stable, is sandwiched between condo developments and will be torn down this week.

7 years ago

Duration 0:33

A foundation that has been fighting for years to save Montreal's oldest horse stable now says the best way to preserve this piece of history in a booming, everchanging Griffintown is by building it anew.

Girard explained the foundation submitted rebuild plans to the city a year ago and that itagreed to spend its $150,000 part, but the funds haven't come through.

As for when that'll happen, "your guess is as good as mine," he said, though adding he was confident building will start in the fall and only take a few weeks.

Marc-Andr Gosselin, Mayor Denis Coderre's press secretary, saysthe city has received a request for funding but no decision has been made on whether to grant it.

Girard, a lawyer, got involved with the foundation in 2010, after the firm he works for helped incorporate it.

"I think it's important for the history of Montreal because horses were an integral part of Montreal in the 19th to early 20th century," he said. "I thought it was important for the community to keepit's not the buildingbut at least a stable in the heart of Montreal."