Negro Community Centre demolition can proceed: Court of Appeal

Quebecs Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by Montreals Southwest Borough to save the Negro Community Centre.

The court handed down its decision just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

On Friday, a Superior Court judge gave the buildings owners the green light to demolish the building Little Burgundy.

The borough then took the matter to the Court of Appeal.

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"Little Burgundy will never be the same," said community organizer MichaelFarkas. "Shame on me, shame on everyone that we didn't save this prestigious building for Canada, for Quebec, for Montreal. Shame on all levels of government."

Farkas believes the lotwill remain empty once the building is demolished.

In May 2014, the centre's administration filed for bankruptcy, weeks after a wall in the historic building collapsed.

The centre said it was too expensive to repair the abandoned building onCoursolStreet, leaving the organization no choice but to file for bankruptcy protection.

Court documents showthe building is owned by a numbered company registered in Quebec.