Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue expropriates farmhouse, land in northern sector
The stone farmhouse located in the northern sector of Ste-Annede-Bellevue is a burned-out shell, but its remains have been ruled historically significant, dating back to 1779. The future of the Braerob farmhouse, also called Maison MichelRobillard, has been the focus of attention for years. Last month, town council narrowly voted in favour of expropriating the structure along with around 20 feet of land radiating out from its foundations in four directions. The council vote was split, three for and three against. Mayor Paola Hawa broke the tie by voting yes. The municipality ’s vision for the property, included in the Special Planning Project (SPP) for the region, is to create a multi-purpose chalet that would act as the entrance to the regional park. “Braerob has always been central to the SPP,” Hawa said. Développement Immobilier Grilli Inc. owns the farmhouse as well as all adjacent land south of the Hydro lands and north of Chemin Ste-Marie. The company has 30 days to appeal the expropriation. Its president Paolo Grilli was out of town and could not be reached for comment by deadline. In 2012, the laws governing heritage designations changed and so the town applied to have the property designated a heritage site. A few weeks later and before the heritage designation was approved, the house was gutted by a fire. The town commissioned a study to see if the structure could be restored. The decision was that the brick walls and foundation could be restored. In 2013, the building was deemed a heritage sit at the municipal level and recognized as such by the Quebec government. The developer applied for a demolition permit. It was denied. The developer appealed. The results of the appeal have yet to be determined. In 2014, the town placed notice of reserve on the property which contained the building. This prevented the developer from making any improvements and froze the value of the land. Hawa said this type of notice is usually considered the precursor to expropriation. A reserve lasts two years, with a one-time option to renew. It was renewed in 2016. “By then we knew that the REM (Réseau express métropolitain) would be building a (light-rail network) station right across the street,” Hawa said. “The location (of the farmhouse) was perfect for a welcoming chalet. You take a look at all the regional parks on the island and they have a welcoming chalet.” Hawa said the farmhouse is one of the oldest buildings on the island. The town received approval from a heritage fund for $1 million to put toward the restoration of the farmhouse. The town, the Montreal Agglomeration Council and the Quebec government would each pay one third of the restoration bill, which came in at $1.6 million. Ultimately, the town’s previous administration voted down the proposed budget. Because the burned out shell has been exposed to the elements for years now, Hawa said another inspection would be necessary before deciding what could be salvaged at this stage. Hawa said the unanimously adopted SPP presented a clear vision for the northern sector, which focused on preserving as much green space as possible while allowing for some development. Last July, a trio of developers — Grilli not among them — who own 93.5 hectares of land in the northern sector sued the town for $35.6 million over the SPP because it reduced the footprint allowed for residential development. The lawsuit accused the town of disguised expropriation. A court date has yet to be determined.