The Terrace Theatre in Robbinsdale is almost certainly slated for demolition to make way for a new Hy-Vee grocery store and a gas station. The idea appears to have the support of the City Council and the mayor's office. The theater has been shuttered since the late 1990s and has fallen into disrepair — how much is uncertain due to the reticence of the management company to allow an accurate independent assessment.

The demolition would be a major loss for anybody who is able to appreciate what an absolute gem of an example of midcentury modern design it is and a missed opportunity for the continuation of what is a newly revitalizing Robbinsdale. Businesses like Travail Kitchen and Amusements, Pig Ate My Pizza, Golden Age Design and the Wicked Wort Brewing Co. are giving the stretch of Broadway from 36th to 42nd Avenues N. — and the city in general — a much-needed transfusion of youth and culture. The Terrace would be a brilliant addition to this list, anchoring the south end of this stretch and providing a venue for art, film and live music that is sorely missing from the area.

The Riverview Theater in south Minneapolis is a perfect example of the success of this model. It is a vital and well-loved hub in the neighborhood and well beyond. In Robbinsdale, all of this potential will be lost forever if the city moves forward with Hy-Vee. Once the Terrace is gone, it's gone forever. That would be a tragedy.

I have a strong emotional tie to the theater, since it was the first in which I ever saw a film. I didn't understand why I was in awe then, but I certainly do now. The Terrace was like a cathedral for film. It was both soaring and firmly planted. Anybody who has been in it will know what I mean.

There is a brand-new Hy-Vee in New Hope 3.5 miles from the Terrace. I shop there, and I like it fine. Cub Foods has a location a hair over a mile west on 36th. It seems clear that it's not ease of shopping that is the issue. The cynic in me says that the tax revenue dollar signs are blinding those in decisionmaking positions, preventing them from seeing what an absolutely horrible, shortsighted decision they are making.

The broader parcel on which the grocery store is to be built is also the site of a failed grocery store. Simply stated, we don't need another grocery store in the area. And what will happen to stalwarts and independents like Hackenmueller Meats and Wuollet Bakery? Hackenmueller's has been in business for 120 years. It seems unlikely that it will be able to compete with a juggernaut like Hy-Vee.

I'm not much of an agitator, and I don't know the right ears to whisper into. I'm unsure of the most effective way of expressing my deep and utter sadness at the almost certain loss of this historic structure. I know also that this pales in comparison to the horror and injustice that happens daily around the world and here at home, but it's happening, altogether too soon, and the time for attention is now.

My son and I have been doing a fair amount of exploring Minnesota this summer. In virtually every small town and city we've been through, we've found a vibrant main street of grand old architecture preserved and repurposed. Robbinsdale has an opportunity to look past the short-term gain and preserve an important piece of its cultural heritage. More than a few of us are praying that those in power make the decision that nourishes the spirit.

Brian Velenchenko lives in Crystal.