Spectrum could vanish in March Borough awards demolition contract. Commercial building would replace former concert hall
JASON MAGDER
JAN RAVENSBERGEN of The Gazette contributed to this report
The Gazette
Published: Tuesday February 19 2008
The Spectrum's music memories could turn to dust as early as next month.
The storied Montreal concert hall is one of six buildings slated for the wrecker's ball after a decision last night by the Ville Marie borough's demolition committee.
The panel voted unanimously to grant a demolition contract to SIDEV Inc. to tear down the concert hall and five neighbouring buildings along Ste. Catherine and Bleury Sts., in the city's Quartier des Spectacles.
In their place, the company plans to erect a four-storey building with stores on the first two floors and office space on the third and fourth floors.
The public has 30 days to file formal opposition to last night's decision, or the demolition permit will be automatically awarded.
Plateau Mont Royal resident Étienne Coutu, 28, said he plans to oppose the decision. He was the only member of the public to speak out at last night's meeting against the demolition.
"I want to make sure there is a plan to replace the Spectrum before the building is demolished," he said after submitting a petition with the names of more than 15,000 people opposing the demolition.
If any formal declarations of opposition are made, it falls on the borough council to make a final decision on the fate of the buildings.
The Spectrum carved an important niche in the local music scene because its size (a capacity of about 1,000) made concerts intimate, Coutu said.
"Many groups were discovered thanks to the Spectrum," he said. "Now there are about 300 shows that won't go on this year because it's closed."
Karim Boulos, a Ville Marie councillor and chairperson of the demolition committee said the city's music scene could handle the loss of the Spectrum.
"The Spectrum was not being filled," Boulos said. "There are a lot of theatres that are also suffering, so the Spectrum's closing may on some levels help the other halls stay alive a little longer."
The block occupied by the concert hall has played an important role in Montreal's history. Some of the city's first motion pictures were shown there. The private boys school Loyola College, which has since moved to western Notre Dame de Grâce, also occupied one of the buildings slated for development.
The demolition committee asked that SIDEV commemorate the history of the area in some manner.
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Céline Dion, B.B. King among stars who performed at club The Spectrum was a landmark of Montreal's music scene for almost a quarter-century. Its first show, featuring PIL and Claude Dubois, was held Oct. 17, 1982.
L'Équipe Spectra operated the night club from the start. It announced shutdown plans in January 2007. The last show took place in early August.
Located at 318 Ste. Catherine St. W., near Bleury St., the Spectrum provided space for a standing audience of 1,200, or 900 seated.
An array of Quebec entertainers have played the venue. They include Michel Rivard, Zachary Richard, Rufus Wainwright, Céline Dion and La La La Human Steps.
Diana Krall, Sarah McLachlan, Holly Cole, k.d. Lang, the Tragically Hip, Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo are among other Canadian acts that have hit its stage.
James Brown, the Police, Peter Gabriel, Paolo Conte, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, B.B. King, Metallica and Pat Metheny have also played the Spectrum.
Sources: L'Équipe Spectra, Gazette files
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008