The future of The Boathouse Restaurant and Music House in Kitchener's Victoria Park may be in jeopardy and many residents are voicing their concerns.

The BoHo, as it's widely known, is considered a place to enjoy live music, food and drink, and for local musicians to share their talent and grow.

The facility is owned by the City of Kitchener, but Kevin Doyle operates the restaurant and music house.

Doyle isn't happy with the new contract offered by the city. He's currently on a month to month lease, but Oct. 23 is expected to be the end of the road.

"Nobody would sign a contract where they're trying to double your rent and lessen your operating hours, which is essentially what they are doing," Doyle says.

As news of the closure spread, many supporters took to Facebook to protest the decision. The group "Save the Boathouse!!!!" boasted over 1,300 members less than 24 hours after the information was revealed.

Fans say the future of the Boathouse, which Doyle estimates employs 1,500 musicians a year, is vital to Kitchener's music scene.

In addition to upset fans, the owners of other local live music venues are worried the closure could be a terrible blow to the entire music scene.

Wendy Hearn, the operations manager at Little Bean, says many live venues work together to help cultivate up and coming talent and promote local events.

"It's a big player in our community, especially in this downtown core that's developing so much you know, it's kind of like the pioneer of these kinds of venues."

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr tells CTV News the situation is linked to upgrades being done in Victoria Park, including dredging the lake, and the closure was meant to be temporary.

Zehr says the mayor's office has offered Doyle assistance to find a temporary location and he doesn't know where the rent increase rumour came from.

"I really don't have any idea where it came from because it is absolutely false. We have not, as I said, increased the rent since…we have not increased since he's there, which is in 2009."

A public meeting on the Victoria Lake Project is taking place on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Downtown Community Centre, 35 Weber Street West.