International experts will be weighing in on a three-day symposium to help determine what will become of all the buildings that will be vacant when the two new superhospitals open.
Heritage Montreal began the symposium Sunday, when the public had its chance to ponder the issue.
On a walking tour of the Royal Victoria Hospital, participants didn’t simply look at the bricks; they also took in the building's 120-year history. By and large, the attitude of those who attended was concern.
“We don't want to see all these places being turned into private residences and then in 10 or 20 years there's no place left to build anything for the public good,” said George Mack.
Once the MUHC and CHUM are built, the government is planning to sell the Royal Victoria, Hotel Dieu, Montreal Chest Institute and the Children’s Hospitals, as well as two pavilions at Notre-Dame Hospital.
The health ministry is hoping to net $220 million from the sales, but Heritage Montreal believes that's unrealistic.
Heritage Montreal policy director Dinu Bumbaru said selling the Royal Vic is particularly challenging.
“We do know that for the Royal Vic, there are a couple of hundreds of millions (of dollars) that are necessary to bring it up to code,” he said.
In one possibly scenario, McGill University has expressed an interest in taking over the Royal Victoria Hospital if they can work out a deal with the government.
What makes things more difficult for any sale is thatunder the building’s original deed, the family that donated the Royal Vic insisted the building remains a hospital.
Some heirs are currently fighting to maintain that.
Heritage Montreal worries that unless the government has a proper plan, both the Vic and Hotel Dieu will either end up abandoned or in the hands of condo developers.
“The market in Montreal is so low and that would not be a fair use for these wonderful public properties,” said Bumbaru. “There's a likelihood that these become a liability on Montreal instead of an accent.”
