The mayor of Quebec will take a look at the proposal for a museum of innovation and transportation for the old Colisée, but he still believes that it would be better to demolish the building to make way for housing.
• Also read: Colisée de Québec: a group will propose a museum of transport and innovation
The GIRAM proposal will be detailed on Wednesday. The group has already met the advisor, member of the executive committee responsible for heritage, Mélissa Coulombe-Leduc, as well as the general director of ExpoCité, Catherine Chénier, Bruno Marchand revealed on Tuesday.
“We will look at the proposal. I haven’t seen her yet,” he said. “So much the better if there are people who bring proposals. We will see what the planning and conservation commission will tell us and, as soon as possible, we will be able to say what we are doing with it, based on what was presented to us.”
Opinion unchanged
The mayor assures: “My opinion does not change. But I find it interesting that citizens and groups propose projects.”
GIRAM wants to see in the old arena a museum of transport, innovation and technology, as is found in other large cities.
The mayor wants to be able to meet the needs of the City on this site. “In particular housing, green spaces. To be able to nurture an interesting community around the Grand Marché.”
Facture
The head of Équipe Priorité Québec, Patrick Paquet, would like to know the costs of setting up a museum and its operation. “Are we going to create a new museum at the expense of Quebec City taxpayers and which will still be on the tax bill? This is unacceptable. Who will pay the bill?
Jackie Smith, Limoilou councilor and head of Transition Québec, is eager to see the proposed project. “For the Colosseum, there is no clear solution,” she says. She fears that a residential neighborhood will be affected by “nuisance” coming from the Videotron Center, the railway line and the nearby industrial park.
“To lean more towards an event project with some accommodation, that would be better. But keeping the Colosseum as it is or demolishing it, I don’t necessarily have a preference.” She emphasizes that demolition involves fewer financial risks than requalification.
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