Along Sainte-Marie Road off the Trans-Canada Highway lies a piece of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue’s past. The ruins of Maison Michel-Robillard carry a rich history, but the future of the building remains uncertain. City councillor Ryan Young says the Robillard family acquired the agricultural area on which the structure sits in the early 1700s. The farmhouse itself dates back to 1797. “It was in their family - the Robillard family - for just about five generations,” Young says. “There was a huge, beautiful dairy barn beside the house. And so many people in Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue still remember that farm and knew the people who lived there. I had a high school friend who used to rent one of the little outbuildings.” The house burned in a fire in 2012, but the bones remain. It was made a heritage site in 2014, and Young says he’s been pushing to restore it despite demolition talks for years. The building is owned by Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and the land surrounding it is owned by a developer. “We do have an agreement with Montreal, where Montreal would purchase land around the building to access the park, and we would be responsible for some sort of welcoming chalet. According to Young, the agreement dates back to the administration of former Montreal mayor Valerie Plante. Young says estimates for restoring Maison Michel-Robillard and building around it have ranged from $1.5 million to $6 million - and he says there’s reason to invest. With the Anse-à-l’Orme REM station having opened across the street, crowds could pick up. The town is now calling on officials to help. In a statement to CTV News, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Mayor Michel Boudreault said the intention is not to demolish the structure of the house until an alternative project has been developed. The council wants to work toward a consensual project. “We need the help from the province. We need help from the agglomeration of Montreal and I think we need help from the federal government,” Young says. As Young continues to fight, he hopes to see a plan on paper that leads to progress on the ground.
