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Pointe-Claire city council is upping the ante with financial-assistance conditions for the iconic, yet battered, windmill in its village, but there is still no timeline for restorations or a formal deal with the owner of the heritage property, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal.
Since maintaining public access to the historic structure is one of the main reasons the city is willing to contribute almost $1 million for restorations, it would make sense for the archdiocese to consider handing over ownership of the windmill to Pointe-Claire for a nominal fee. Such a transaction would not need to include any adjacent buildings, such as a convent abandoned several years ago or St-Joachim Church, which holds religious services and also hosts community concerts.
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There have been periodic discussions between Pointe-Claire and church officials regarding the windmill for the past two decades, to no avail.
The windmill is Pointe-Claire’s civic emblem and the structure doesn’t have any practical use for today’s St-Joachim Parish.
Repairs to the windmill are urgently needed, as two of the four blades broke off during a storm in 2019, its stone and mortar exterior is deteriorating and there are holes in the roof. It was built in 1709 by the priests of St-Sulpice and rests on church property on the shores of Lac St-Louis.
Pointe-Claire recently filed a draft bylaw, set to be formally adopted by council in January, to create a financial-assistance program for the protection and enhancement of the windmill for 50 per cent of eligible expenses, up to a maximum amount of $967,761. It’s the same amount that was offered in a previous resolution tabled in the fall of 2022, which was then meant to lead to a memorandum of understanding with the archdiocese.
The newly proposed resolution seeks to have the archdiocese apply for the funding from the city, Mayor Tim Thomas said, “to initiate a process for the eventual reparation of the windmill, we hope. It’s not a completed deal. It’s the beginning of a funding process.”
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The archdiocese is expected to seek a similar amount through a heritage restoration building grant from the provincial government.
In August, council established a committee chaired by District 1 councillor Claude Cousineau to review and amend funding conditions to restore the windmill, such as addressing public access and limiting the scope of preservation work. Conditions include the requirement to keep the site free of obstructions that could block access to the windmill, giving the city a pre-emptive right to purchase the property if placed for sale, and requiring the installation of a sign at the site recognizing the city’s financial contribution toward the restoration.
Cousineau said the new resolution closes the door to any potential funding on top of the $967,761 being offered to deal with immediate exterior repairs.
“Part of the plan is to protect the taxpayers from (potential) annual bills recurring for ages and ages,” said Cousineau, who represents the village area.
The resolution states that negotiations will be held between the city and the archdiocese alone, leaving out any potential third parties, Cousineau said. Shifting responsibility to the owners of the windmill will be part of the city’s approach in upcoming negotiations. He said some details could still be amended.
There are provisions if the diocese ever changes its mind and offers ownership of the windmill to the city, Cousineau said.
As for a timeline to start repairs, it could take 12 to 18 months for the archdiocese to hear back regarding a provincial grant request, Cousineau said, adding he is hopeful a deal will be reached to preserve the windmill.
Thomas said the resolution tabled in 2022 offered a workable deal to restore the windmill. The latest version initiated by the council majority simply delays the process by up to two years, since the archdiocese must reapply for funding and then negotiate a deal, he added.
Only time will tell, but a later date for restorative work is still better than a couple more decades of inaction.
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