The land that Villa Maria College sits on in Montreal is up for sale. The congregation that owns the land said on Thursday that the lot is being put up for sale after two conditions were met for proceeding. The Domain was listed for sale on the open market on Wednesday, according to a statement from the congregation. When an offer meets its expectations, the congregation will notify the college, which may exercise its right of first refusal. Les Soeurs de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame said that any buyer will need to honour the school’s lease, which expires in 2030, as well as negotiate a new lease for a minimum of two years after that. In addition, the approximately 100 nuns living at the Bon-Secours residence will be relocated to suitable seniors residences over the next two years. “It is our sincere hope that Villa Maria College will continue its mission for as long as possible,” said congregation superior general Sister Ona Bessette in a news release. “Recognizing the importance of providing predictability for families, staff and the community, we made sure that the terms of sale included specific commitments: respect for the current lease through 2030 and the buyer’s obligation to negotiate a new lease with the College for a minimum term of two years.” “Whoever you talk to, there’s a deep passion about this location,” said Suzanne Gouin, a member of Villa Maria’s board of directors. Desiree McGraw, MNA for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, said the lease extension gives the school a lifeline. “Without that extension, applications would be in freefall,” she said. “No parent [is] sending their kid ... when they don’t know if they can graduate.” The future of the school was somewhat uncertain in recent years. The congregation adds that bids will be evaluated on the following additional criteria: McGraw added that the community would not want to see condos built across the site. The congregation would not confirm how much the more than 500,000-square-metre site is listed for. But according to the latest municipal valuation, the land and high school buildings are worth nearly $125 million. Villa Maria says it cannot currently afford to buy the property. “I would say it’s impossible at this stage, as of today ... the school does not have the means,” Gouin said. The congregation is intent on preserving the Villa Maria Domain’s future “with respect for its heritage, its natural environment and its urban landscape,” in the release. The Vatican must approve the sale, and any net proceeds from the sale will go towards an endowment to support vulnerable students in Quebec public schools, the sisters say. The over 500,000 square metre (1,669,320 square feet) domain in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough is home to Bon-Secours Residence, Sacré-Coeur Residence, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Residence, and the Congregation’s administrative offices, in addition to the school that was founded 170 years ago. While the lease secures the school’s future for the next six years, its long-term future beyond that remains uncertain. “What is different is that before, Villa Maria had ... a death sentence. Now Villa Maria has a fighting chance,” said McGraw. Seventeenth-century nun Marguerite Bourgeoys founded the congregation, committed to female education institutions around the world.
