1930s Mayfair Theatre named a heritage property

A movie theatre built in Old Ottawa South in 1932 will be protected by a heritage designation, despite the owner's objection.

City council voted 16-6 Wednesday in favour of bestowing that status to the Mayfair Theatre, the only existing cinema in Ottawa built before the Second World War.

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, the theatre's owner now will need city council's permission to alter or tear down the building, which was designed as a Spanish Revival-style theatre intended to suggest the ambience of a Mediterranean plaza.

The theatre is slated to close at the end of November and go up for sale after that.

City staff and the planning and environment committee had recommended the designation in September for the brick building on Bank Street near Euclid Avenue.

A staff report highlighted interior features such as ornate stone facades, faux balconies along the side walls, wrought ironwork, drapery and ornamental glass windows.

However, a lawyer for the theatre's owner had argued that the single-screen theatre isn't viable as a business. In addition, the building needs costly repairs, including a new roof.

Gord Hunter, a councillor for Knoxdale-Merivale, was among the minority of council members who voted against the heritage designation, arguing that the building just looks like a brick block from the outside.