A time-traveling kid runs through Gore Park during an apocalypse. Art thieves stop for drinks at the Blue Grotto in the Capri Restaurant. A woman falls in love with a merman, and then catches the bus on Barton Street.

All of these recent scenes were produced in Hamilton. Now, the city is paving the way for a full-scale movie studio on land it once reserved for a stadium.

City council's planning committee voted Tuesday to zone land at Barton and Tiffany to allow for production studio, soundstage, and clusters of shops to serve it.

There are still some issues, like cleaning up contamination done by long-ago industry, which the city will do before someone builds a studio on it. But councillors Tuesday painted a rosy picture.

"We're cleaning up a barren and noxious toxic hot spot very, very soon," said Jason Farr, Ward 2 (downtown) councillor.

More and more productions are shooting in Hamilton, Farr said. The recent Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, for example, is packed with Hamilton shots. It shows Hamilton "in a wonderful light," Farr said, "except for the armageddon scene."

The land's recent history dates back to 2010, when the city bought and demolished nearly 20 homes and businesses along Barton Street West. The goal was to put a new football stadium there.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats quashed that idea though, in an acrimonious debate with city hall over the location, at one point threatening to leave town. Tim Hortons Field ended up where the old stadium was, and since then, the Barton-Tiffany land has sat empty.

The city has added "production studio" as an allowed use for this parcel of land in the Barton-Tiffany area. (City of Hamilton)

Meanwhile, film permit numbers are rising. Last year, the city issued 811, up from 539 the year before. That includes The Umbrella Academy, The Art of the Steal and Guillermo Del Toro's Oscar winner The Shape of Water.

Hamilton economic development staff say there's been interest for a while from companies who want to build a film studio here. The city held a public information session and took letters and public presentations.

A studio would replace some or all of a 2014 plan for the area that included businesses, park space and two towers, one 12 stories and one 16. Planner Edward John says a studio would also bring 500 to 1,000 jobs.

Barton-Tiffany isn't a slam dunk. John says the nearby CN Rail yard could cause noise and vibration issues. And the site, which once held industries, has contamination problems. That would have to be fixed before the land is redeveloped.

Tuesday's vote, if council ratifies it tomorrow, would add "production studio" to the list of allowed uses.