By Maria Altman, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Kiel Opera House redevelopment in downtown St. Louis finally is moving forward.
The $70 million renovation proposal calls for a 3,500 seat theater, another small theatre, a restaurant, and conference rooms.
The investment group includes Blues owner Dave Checketts and McEagle Properties. They's seeking $30 million in city amusement taxes on Blues tickets be diverted for bond payments on the project.
Alderman Fred Wessels co-sponsored legislation in the Board of Alderman Friday.
Wessels says the investment group hopes to open the opera house by December of next year, which he calls ambitious.
"All the seats have to be removed in the main theatre, all the carpeting and flooring, I mean it's going to be a complete rehab of the existing opera house," he said.
The investment group includes Blues owner Dave Checketts and McEagle Properties. They's seeking $30 million in city amusement taxes on Blues tickets be diverted for bond payments on the project.
The Kiel Opera House was built in 1934 and closed in 1991.