Montreal's Negro Community Centre could be sold tomorrow

The Negro Community Centrein Little Burgundywas once the heart of Montreal's black community, however, tomorrow the damaged building could be sold to a private condodeveloper.

The building built in 1890 has been closed more than 20 years. LastApril an exterior wallcollapsed and asafety perimeter has been in place ever since.

• Abandoned Little Burgundy building partially collapses

Before becoming an international ambassador of the city's jazz scene, Oscar Peterson and others such asOliver Jones started off on the keys at theNCC.

TheNCCwasonce a lifeline to the community, offering music lessons,night courses,homework helpand even lent money to community members, while providing a safe place for the youth in the neighbourhood.

It's very painful to watch, knowing the historical value of this building,and the significance ithad on the community at large, and hearing all of the emotions and the feelings of the people, and the pain of the people of this community, saidKeetonClarke, a member of Montreal's black community who wants to save the Negro CommunityCenter.

Bankruptcy hearing

Thebuilding no longer belongs to the community and is under trusteeship with a private firm.

After the exterior wall collapsed,the Board of Directors had to declare bankruptcybecause they couldnot afford to cover the conservation fees,property taxes,insurance, and the cost to send an inspector to check on the building.

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At the bankruptcy hearing last week the trustee announced thatcreditors were owed about $166,000.

Aprivate developerChapamConstruction presented an offer to purchase the building for $300,000.

Saving the centre

The building itself is badly damaged. Onewall has totally crumbled,exposingpipes andwood beams. Radiatorshave rusted and more cracks developing on other walls.

Members of the community are writing letters to local officials asking them to protect the building, however,thereisn't anorganized movement.

• Montreal's Negro Community Centre: rebuild or move on?

Still, many say they don't want it to become a condo development.

Clarke used to go to the centre when he first moved to Canada as a young man from the Caribbean and he believeslosing the building would hurt the unity of Montreal's black community.

We have to realize there have been many losses, many social losses in the community," said Clarke. "[The NCC]helped us myself as a youth to feel a part of this society, a part of this community. It allowed me to help my children to feel proud of who they are and give them a sense of history, a sense of purpose.

Not too late?

South West borough Councillor CraigSauv sayshe and his fellow council members are behind the community and want towaitfor what they call"concrete proposals," before tearing the building down.

"We're not going to grant a demolition request just because someone wants to build, because it's not just a piece of property.It's not just one building,it's a very important building. It has symbolic value, it has architectural value and people want to see it restored," saidSauve, who is responsible for thedossier.

The NCCboard hasrefused to speak on record, however PresidentShirley Gyleshas saidshe isexasperated trying to find a financially viable solution that will satisfy everyone.

Former Board memberSharon Nelson saysit wasdifficultto get the community on board when sheserved between 2010 and 2012.

What I experienced on the Board was, yes, some energy, because people were nostalgic about what they experienced as children and as young adults, saidNelson.

But then, for those who had a struggle with the building, whether it was in the community and it was causing problems or they were on the Board and they couldn't fulfill the goals completely, it became a tough topic to talk about.

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