It’s the home of one of Ottawa’s best concert halls, drawing nearly 1,000 people to performances during Chamberfest, the Jazz Festival and other big cultural events.

It’s a beautiful century-old Romanesque Revival building with parkland and parking that occupies more than half a city block at a prime downtown location.

And it could soon give Carleton University a new connection to the heart of the city.

At its Dec. 5 meeting, Carleton’s Board of Governors approved a motion to formally negotiate the potential purchase of the historic Dominion-Chalmers United Church — east of O’Connor Street between Lisgar and Cooper — for use as a multi-purpose performance space for students and faculty, and a hub for artists and community groups.

“The acquisition of this unique community asset would provide valuable performance space for Carleton students and faculty that isn’t available on the main campus,” said Carleton President Alastair Summerlee.

“By creating this downtown hub, we are renewing an important link with the Ottawa community that had the bold vision to create Carleton in 1942.”

The board’s decision follows a due diligence process completed by the university earlier this year. The recommendation to proceed on acquiring the property is subject to the negotiation of a satisfactory purchase and sales agreement, including appropriate legal caveats.