Next week, city council will re-open the debate over a performing arts centre.
But with a consultant's report rejecting the most recent proposal, could a new path forward be found by taking a look backwards?
It was 2007 when consulting firm Novita first recommended Centennial Hall be replaced by a new performing arts centre.
But a lack of political will saw city hall politicians shelve the idea in spite of the efforts of then controller Gord Hume.
Fast forward to 2015 and Centennial Hall is eight years older but the city appears no closer to a replacement.
Now, Hume says the missing piece to the puzzle remains political leadership at city hall to guide the project.
"London has been having the debate on a performing arts centre for 30 years. It gets to a certain point and then everybody gets cold feet."
On Wednesday, a report by consulting firm Novita rejected the Celebration Centre proposal by Music London, criticizing its design, location and financials.
Novita recommends city hall take the lead on a new performing arts discussion with the public this year.
But Hume is skeptical that the timing is right for London's mostly rookie council to tackle the performing arts centre once and for all.
"I think the community needs to take a break for a little while, then the council has to decide are they willing to support the idea and putting some money towards it," says Hume.
Digging a little deeper into the 2007 Novita report reveals what a new performing arts centre could look like in downtown London.
At the time, Novita recommended a 1,200 to 1,500 seat lyric theatre with an estimated price tag of $33 to $42 million that would be in the central downtown core close to other entertainment venues.
Hume reiterates his belief from 2007 - that even if construction of a new facility is still years away - the city must start work on a plan to replace Centennial Hall.
"It will take some courage, it will take some vision and it will take putting public money into the project," Hume says
On Monday, councillors will debate Novita's report rejecting the Celebration Centre design and recommending a city-led process begin.
