When it comes to preservation, nothing ever seems clear in this town.

The latest question: What on earth is in store for the vacant Alabama Theater?

Swamplot obtained documents prepared by Heights Venture Architects and reported that the theater will be gutted, perhaps to make way for a Staples.

Plans show the sloped theater floor being buried under a level concrete slab, along with major changes to the walls and ceilings and the removal of the art deco details and murals that made the theatre so recognizable. The balcony, at least, will remain — for now.

But Weingarten Reality promptly issued a vague denial to the Houston Chronicle, saying no lease has been signed. They did not comment on (or were not asked) the real question: Is the historic theater set to be altered to accomodate a new tenant?

Heights Venture Architects is not returning phone calls, while Swamplot is standing by its story: "Weingarten may not have an agreement in place, but the publicly traded company certainly has demolition plans in place, already labeled as issued for permitting," the Web site wrote.

The plans as they are would permanently alter the theater's structure, something that was explicitly avoided in the 1984 remodel.

Guess we've always got Tower Theater.