The Lévis demolition committee will have to hold a public meeting to look into the future of Moulin Gosselin. Last Thursday, Action Patrimoine sent a notice of opposition to the secretary of the body.
Remember that built in 1835 by Benjamin Dubois and Flavien Lavoine, the mill was operated from 1871 by the Gosselin family, for the wood industry. In 1970, the widow of Joseph Gosselin sold the mill to the famous Lévis painter Albert Rousseau. In 1971, for the eighth Country Exhibition, the sawmill became the Moulin des Arts and was the preferred location for the artistic event of its founder, Albert Rousseau. Succeeding exhibitions will be given in the same place.
In addition, the Moulin des Arts will become a place of learning with the possibility of taking free workshops in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and engraving under the supervision of Rousseau. Albert Rousseau’s son, Marcel, took over the place after his father died in 1982. Le Moulin des Arts finally closed its doors in 1997.
Moreover, the rich past of the building located along the Beaurivage River is one of the arguments put forward by Action Patrimoine to demand the refusal of the demolition of the Moulin Gosselin.
“The mill, built in 1835 and operated by the family of the same name until 1970, is the last one still standing in the territory of Lévis. It has an important historical value, because in addition to its initial vocation it housed, until 1997, an arts center founded by the painter Albert Rousseau,” argued the organization, in the letter sent to the secretary of the committee demolition.
“Lack of maintenance” denounced
Also, Action Patrimoine argues that Entreprises Lévisiennes, current owner of Moulin Gosselin, “must respect” the regulations on the occupation and maintenance of buildings.
This regulation requires in particular that “any main building, other than an agricultural building located in an agricultural zone, as well as any other building used for residential purposes must be maintained at all times in a condition suitable for human occupation and the necessary maintenance and repair work must be carried out in order to keep it in this condition.
“The situation has been known for years and it is clear that the application of the regulations was not carried out by the City of Lévis. It is unacceptable for a building of this value to be purchased, without being properly maintained, and then subject to a request for demolition because its condition has deteriorated. (…) Action Patrimoine is opposed to the demolition of the Gosselin mill and we ask you to refuse this request, in order to encourage the owner to carry out the necessary work,” concluded Action Patrimoine.
