Topic Description : Team 20 seeks to analyze the controversial renovations and refurbishments of the Empress Theatre in NDG for Assignment 1, Analysis of a Planning Issue. The Empress Theatre was...

The Process
The Empress theatre which was opened in 1927 and later abandoned in 1992 due to fire, is all
set for a long due makeover, which would again translate it into a major landmark in
Montreal. Since 1999, the onus was on the Empress Cultural Centre or the ECC to
maintaining and renovating the theatre. However, its inability to get adequate funding and
meet deadlines saw it losing the mandate from the Montreal city. On August 15, 2011,
considering the frequent delays in the renovation program the CDN-NDG borough council
voted in favour of initiating a tender process for the redevelopment of the Empress theatre.
Though the level of frustration for ECC was higher, they showed a great character by
accepting the challenge and agreeing to be a part of the bidding process.
The Bidding
As discussed in the previous section, citing the inability of ECC, CDN-NDG borough council
opened the Empress Theatre renovation project for bidding. Since the time the project was
opened for bidding, two contenders emerged as the major participants in this bidding process
- the Empress Cultural Centre group and the Cinema NDG. The Cinema NDG has already
displayed its might with the successful development of East End Cinema Beaubien.
As part of the bidding process, both the parties i.e. ECC and Cinema NDG are required to
submit a project report/detailed plan that will highlight a detailed long term plan for the
Empress theatre. This will not only include the kind of renovation and additions the parties
will like to make to the Empress theatre but will also include a detailed project cost break-up
(including every activity involved in the project) with regards to the project. Along with this,
both the parties are also required to submit a project feasibility report to back their claims
regarding the renovation process.
Cinema NDG’s Bid
Cinema NDG is a non-profit organization which was incorporated on October 19
th
, 2010. It
was established to develop strategies for promoting and developing social, economic and
cultural well being in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce area. With this objective in mind, Cinema NDG
envisages to bid for the development and renovation of Empress Theatre and save the iconic
building.
The central theme of the project plan submitted by Cinema NDG revolves around the
establishment of local cinema. Cinema NDG plans of creating a warm public place where the
public can come and attend Cinema shows, besides shopping at the ground floor. Its project
consists of:
 Renovation of the theatre building and revitalization of various functions
 Implementation of local cinema with four screens on the top floor,...