Hollywood Theatre fight intensifies as Cory Weeds’ Cellar jazz club winds down

The fight for the Hollywood appears to me to be a case of no good deed going unpunished [“Heritage fight for Hollywood”, November 21-28]. Dino Bonnis was first good enough to let a church group use the building until it was redeveloped. Having done one good deed, he proceeded to come up with a plan where the original façade would be preserved and the building repurposed, rather than just demolishing it. Isn’t that the kind of thing that sensitive developers are supposed to do?

For his trouble, he now faces a pressure group that knows what should be done with the building several years after he acquired it. Where were these people when the Hollywood held its last commercial screening, or the church held its first service?

In the meantime, Cory Weeds’ Cellar is closing in a few months. Apparently, a movie theatre–church becoming a gym is a cultural disaster even in Kitsilano, where many actually do seem to value fitness over going to the movies or church. But the closing of Vancouver’s best jazz venue just down the street is of little consequence.

> Brent Sutherland / Vancouver

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