After more than two decades of planning, a new performing arts venue on Portland’s Munjoy Hill is finally shovel-ready.

The Hill Arts — formerly known as St. Lawrence Arts — has secured city approvals and raised half of the $18 million needed to begin construction on a 400-seat theater next to its existing Parish Hall Theater. The nonprofit hopes to break ground this October.

The new venue will fill a long-standing gap in Portland’s arts scene, offering a mid-sized, state-of-the-art space with flexible staging, professional lighting and acoustics, and even a rooftop gathering area with panoramic views. The Parish Hall Theater, which seats about 100, will remain in use.

The project has been in the works since the adjacent St. Lawrence Church was demolished in 2008 due to safety concerns. Now, with momentum building and $9 million already raised, The Hill Arts says it’s ready to bring a long-held vision to life.