Wrecking Ball Threatens Jazz Fest Venue in Montreal

Yet another Canadian jazz venue is in threat of disappearing as the Spectrum, a key Montreal Jazz Festival venue, is slated for demolition to make way for a new office tower development.

Spectrum has been served with an eviction notice and is scheduled to be shut down in August.

There are efforts underway to preserve the concert hall, one of Montreal’s most illustrious music venues, but the future does not look bright without funding coming from the government or business community.

It was initially hoped the new development would incorporate a music club, but the funding that was hoped for to make that a reality has not been forthcoming.

The developer, SIDEV Realty Corp., isn’t willing to wait any longer to proceed with it’s plan, although Spectra president Alain Simard continues to hope for a last-minute miracle in the form of a corporate sponsor.

An estimated 10 million dollars is needed to preserve the space.