The Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society has signed a 10-year lease agreement with the city allowing it to operate a museum out of the former 10,000 Villages retail space on McAllister Avenue.
Council approved the agreement during Monday's meeting in time for the society to qualify for a federal government Legacy Grant. If the grant application is successful, the money would go a long way toward covering some of the organization's capital costs.
A partnership agreement between the city and the society has been in the works for several months and council approved spending $49,000 for the project in its 2012 capital plan.
The money will be used to make some building modifications to reflect the new usage, according to city staff.
Last February, the city confirmed that 10,000 Villages, a fair-trade retailer, would not be renewing its lease.
After the property was vacated, members of the heritage society approached the city about using the location for a museum.
For several years the organization has been looking for an opportunity to house all of its photos and artifacts under one roof. Currently, its displays can be seen next to the community police station on Mary Hill Road, the archives at Leigh Square and in the lobby of city hall.
The society is hoping to have the new museum ready for a grand opening to coincide with the city's 100th birthday on March 7, 2013.
