Time running out for Czech centre to get OK for hotel
Time running out for Czech centre to get OK for hotel
Use original plans, Parks Canada urges; Officials to meet with non-profit group to check decontamination of property
ANN CARROLL
The Gazette
Friday, August 26, 2005
CREDIT: GORDON BECK, THE GAZETTE
"There was no money involved whatsoever," promoter George Syrovatka said of his successful bid for the federal land. He paid $1 for a 99-year lease on the Parks Canada property.
The Czech Cultural Centre Inc. bought itself time this summer to decontaminate a canal-side property leased for $1 from Parks Canada.
But the non-profit organization is running out of time to sell federal officials on plans to build a six-storey, 70-room hotel and cultural centre on the site.
"One of the obligations of the lease was to respect the original plans," said Nicole Racette, a spokesperson for Parks Canada.
And those plans called for a four-storey cultural centre, with a basement and 36 rooms for visiting artists, Czech delegations and researchers, Racette said.
"That is the only project that we will approve."
Promoter George Syrovatka, the man behind the plans, says the lease dispute is a misunderstanding, compounded by criticism from jealous developers and groups claiming to represent the Czech community.
"I never planned a luxury hotel," Syrovatka said, downplaying the gap between 70 and 36 rooms.
"It's just facilities ... to accommodate visitors."
In 2002, Syrovatka brokered a 99-year lease on vacant land at the corner of Seminaire and Olier Sts., on the north side of the Lachine Canal, to build a non-profit cultural centre.
The project, which promised 70 new jobs, had the backing of Senator Raymond Lavigne, then MP for Verdun-St. Henri-St. Paul-Point St. Charles, as well as the Southwest borough councillors, Syrovatka said.
Then came the federal sponsorship scandal.
In the publicity fallout, people became suspicious about possible payoffs in his real estate deal with Parks Canada, Syrovatka said.
Talk of redeveloping the Canada Post site next door and of relocating the Montreal Casino to the south side of the canal only fanned speculation, he added.
"There was no money involved whatsoever," Syrovatka said of his successful bid for the federal land.
"The critics only see that we got the property for $1," he said.
"But we don't own the land, and we have to decontaminate it and do the landscaping at our own expense."
The overdue cleanup was completed this week at a cost of as much as $200,000, Syrovatka said.
Parks Canada officials are to meet with Syrovatka on Tuesday to check the decontamination and review his plans, Racette said.
"We're still in favour of a community centre as we approved it," she added.
The borough council has postponed the building permit approval, pending the out-come of the lease dispute and discussions with other Czech groups.
acarroll@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005
Use original plans, Parks Canada urges; Officials to meet with non-profit group to check decontamination of property
ANN CARROLL
The Gazette
Friday, August 26, 2005
CREDIT: GORDON BECK, THE GAZETTE
"There was no money involved whatsoever," promoter George Syrovatka said of his successful bid for the federal land. He paid $1 for a 99-year lease on the Parks Canada property.
The Czech Cultural Centre Inc. bought itself time this summer to decontaminate a canal-side property leased for $1 from Parks Canada.
But the non-profit organization is running out of time to sell federal officials on plans to build a six-storey, 70-room hotel and cultural centre on the site.
"One of the obligations of the lease was to respect the original plans," said Nicole Racette, a spokesperson for Parks Canada.
And those plans called for a four-storey cultural centre, with a basement and 36 rooms for visiting artists, Czech delegations and researchers, Racette said.
"That is the only project that we will approve."
Promoter George Syrovatka, the man behind the plans, says the lease dispute is a misunderstanding, compounded by criticism from jealous developers and groups claiming to represent the Czech community.
"I never planned a luxury hotel," Syrovatka said, downplaying the gap between 70 and 36 rooms.
"It's just facilities ... to accommodate visitors."
In 2002, Syrovatka brokered a 99-year lease on vacant land at the corner of Seminaire and Olier Sts., on the north side of the Lachine Canal, to build a non-profit cultural centre.
The project, which promised 70 new jobs, had the backing of Senator Raymond Lavigne, then MP for Verdun-St. Henri-St. Paul-Point St. Charles, as well as the Southwest borough councillors, Syrovatka said.
Then came the federal sponsorship scandal.
In the publicity fallout, people became suspicious about possible payoffs in his real estate deal with Parks Canada, Syrovatka said.
Talk of redeveloping the Canada Post site next door and of relocating the Montreal Casino to the south side of the canal only fanned speculation, he added.
"There was no money involved whatsoever," Syrovatka said of his successful bid for the federal land.
"The critics only see that we got the property for $1," he said.
"But we don't own the land, and we have to decontaminate it and do the landscaping at our own expense."
The overdue cleanup was completed this week at a cost of as much as $200,000, Syrovatka said.
Parks Canada officials are to meet with Syrovatka on Tuesday to check the decontamination and review his plans, Racette said.
"We're still in favour of a community centre as we approved it," she added.
The borough council has postponed the building permit approval, pending the out-come of the lease dispute and discussions with other Czech groups.
acarroll@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005
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