Maison de Radio-Canada sold, broadcaster moving next door

CBC/Radio-Canada in Montreal will have a new home,but it won't be very far from the existing one.

An internal memo released Wednesday said the broadcaster's board of directors hasapproved a proposal for a new broadcast centre.

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• New Maison Radio-Canada will rise next to existing one

The new building is to be constructed at the corner of Ren-Levesque Boulevard East and Papineau Avenue. That would appear to be the eastern parking lot of the existing Radio-Canada property.

The real estate developer Broccolini will constructthe new building. CBC/Radio-Canada is to become a tenant under a 30-year lease.

The development company Groupe Mach Inc. has purchased the existing building and the westernparking lot. In a release issued last spring, the board of directors said it was considering four bids for its sale.

The acquisitions are contingent on the Treasury Board of Canada's approval.

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Two projects shortlisted in May

The broadcaster announced in May that it was considering two proposals for a new building, both of which were planned to be built next to the existing location.

"With this decision, the public broadcaster is committed to remaining in the neighbourhood where it currently resides," said CBC/Radio-CanadaExecutive Vice-President of French Services Louis Lalandeat the time.

Design to be unveiled Thursday

Details, along with some photos of thedesign for the new building, will be released at a formal announcement on Thursday.

Hritage Montreal spokesman DinuBumbaruis reserving judgment until he sees the new plans, but told CBC News it's worth trying to preserve the old building.

"From the bridge, it has a personality," he said.

Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly said she's pleased to hear the new facility will remain in its old neighbourhood. The logo on the Maison Radio-Canada tower can be seen from across the downtown.

"It's also important the people working at CBC/Radio-Canada have access to modern facilities and I understand that the process has been done in an open and transparent way," she said.

Historic building

There's been talk ofmoving out of theMaison deRadio-Canada, which was built in 1973, for about a decade.

The 23-floortowerserves asthe broadcast headquarters ofCBC'sFrench-speaking service, Radio-Canada.

The federal government, CBC/Radio-Canada and the City of Montreal decided on the location of the building in 1963.

Some 678 families roughly 5,000 people were forced to relocatebefore the broadcaster took possession of the land.