After much research and discussion, the current owners of the French Cultural Centre, ACFA Regionale de Saint-Paul, has decided to sell the building back to the East Central Francophone Education Region (ECFER) for one dollar.
The building, located on 50th Avenue, near 46th Street, was given to the French association in 1995 by the school board. A consultant was hired to look into options, such as renovating, but the cost far exceeded the association’s means and mandate, said Natalie Hebert, project director with ACFA.
“This way we can concentrate more on what ACFA is here for,” which is to organize francophone events and encourage French-Canadian culture, Hebert said, following a meeting on Dec. 21 with ACFA members. Les Bles d’Or and the North Eastern Music Association rent space in the building.
“There’s definitely been a lot of research done,” said Hebert. Even if the association had decided to renovate the Cultural Centre, the costs of operating the building were simply too high, she added.
Overall, people have been understanding of the decision that’s been made, although it was a tough choice to make, said Hebert. At last week’s meeting, members congratulated the ACFA for working together to make the decision.
“Nobody really wanted to make the decision to sell the building,” said Hebert, but added operating a building such as the Cultural Centre is not what the ACFA is meant to do.
ACFA operates out of the Cultural Centre and will move to the adjoining building in January, which is the old École du Sommet, alongside the ECFER.
ECFER superintendent Marc Dumont confirmed the division will take back ownership of the building, and added because of the costs associated with renovating the building, estimated at about $1.5 million, the building “may be torn down.”
People are aware of the building’s state and possible fate, said Dumont. The ECFER has no interest in using the building for its own purposes and is more interested in “right-sizing” the old École du Sommet so the division has only the space it needs.
Most likely, the division will turn off the utilities in the Cultural Centre and keep costs to a minimum. The idea of selling the building is also not ideal since “it’s kind of like an isolated island,” and only a few metres of land around the building belong to the same title. Also, the centre is physically attached to the old École du Sommet, which makes selling even harder, he said.
