The curtain seems to have fallen on the old Seville Theatre.
The city has given the go-ahead to tear it down after years of opposition from heritage groups that wanted the fa�ade of the old theatre to be saved.
However, three different studies concluded that the outer shell of the building cannot be safely built around.
The theatre was abandoned in 1985 and has been rotting on its foundations since.
Some say the story of the Seville is demolition by neglect.
The plan
The land is now owned by Claridge Incorporated, and they want to build a three-tower development that would include 1100 units of student housing, stores, offices, recreational space and parking.
The city's executive committee is recommending that Claridge be allowed to tear down the fa�ade of the old theatre to make way for the plan.
The executive will present the $100 million plan to city council next Monday. After that it faces public consultation. If it makes it through both of those stages, construction will start this summer.
Claridge is planning on having the developments complete for classes in the fall of 2011.
It is not the first time that plans have been drawn up for the old Seville. Area merchants are hoping this one will go through to help revitalize the area. It has seen a downturn since the closure of the old Montreal Forum.
The theatre was built in 1929 as one of the first open-concept movie theatres in Canada. It had a high celing painted to resemble a night sky and intended to give the feeling of watching a film outside.
It was later converted into a concert hall. In the 1940s the theatre hosted performers including Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.
In the 1960s the Seville reverted to showing movies once again.
It ceased operation as a repertory theatre in 1985.
