Many thanks to the Times Colonist for publishing my brief letter to the editor regarding the Odeon theater and theaters more generally:
Cultural assets needed in downtown Victoria
Re: “Losing the Odeon Theatre would be failure of civic planning,” commentary, May 21.
Thank you to Collin Rennie — and many other residents I’ve heard from recently — for the concern for cultural spaces in our downtown.
As a Victoria city councillor, I share the concern about the potential loss of the Odeon Theatre. While the theatre is for sale, no redevelopment plans have been submitted.
The zoning for that property, and all of downtown, already allows for continued theatre use — and a new owner could well choose to maintain it as such.
More broadly, the current Official Community Plan and Downtown Core Area Plan recognize the importance of retaining cultural venues downtown.
Incentives like bonus density and zoning variances are available to support heritage conservation and cultural infrastructure.
The Odeon is also listed on the city’s Heritage Register and within a Heritage Conservation Area, meaning key architectural and interior elements are supported through permit requirements.
Looking ahead, we’re also preparing for stronger policy tools. Our new Official Community Plan will be followed by a Community Infrastructure Strategy and an updated Downtown Core Area Plan — both I hope with a focus on retaining and expanding cultural assets like movie theatres.
So, while council can’t control ownership decisions, I hope that we will do what we can to ensure that Victoria remains a vibrant, walkable city with spaces for everyone, and a fun night out.
Dave Thompson
Councillor
City of Victoria
– Image: Google Maps