1 November 2000
The Sun-Times reported that the city will ask the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to grant the Biograph Theater and Wrigley Field landmark status, which would protect the exterior of both structures from unapproved demolition. Both the theater, best known as the site where gangster John Dillinger met his demise, and the stadium were built in 1914.
20 September 2000
Neighborhood newspaper Inside reported that the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council has granted preliminary approval for the creation of a National Historic District that would include several Uptown landmarks, including the Uptown Theater, the Green Mill Lounge, the Aragon Ballroom, and the former Loren Miller/Goldblatt's department store complex. The proposal, backed by the Uptown Community Development Corporation, must eventually be approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Keeper of the National Register at the U.S. Department of the Interior for the historic designation to become official. Such a designation would protect the structures from demolition and provide tax incentives for their preservation and redevelopment.
3 August 2000
The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported that the Chicago Landmarks Commission has granted temporary landmark status to the Congress Theater, 2135 North Milwaukee Avenue, after concerns were raised that a developer had plans to purchase and demolish the building. Temporary landmark status prohibits structural alterations or demolition of the theater for one year, unless approved by the landmarks commission. During that time, the commission will consider whether or not the theater should be granted permanent landmark status. Local alderman Billy Ocasio, who did not initially voice strong support for preserving the theater, has since stated that he would be interested in seeing the theater transformed into a Latino performing arts theater.
26 July 2000
A new organization, Friends of the Congress Theater, has been formed to save the Congress Theater from the wrecking ball. The vaudeville and motion-picture theater, located at 2135 North Milwaukee Avenue, opened in 1926 as part of the Lubliner and Trinz theater circuit and is one of the city's last remaining neighborhood movie palaces. An option to purchase the property was recently reached between the theater's current owners and a developer who plans to tear down the building and replace it with a condominium complex. Friends of the Congress Theater are seeking landmark status for the Congress and would prefer to see the theater sold to a developer who would maintain the theater as a community asset.
25 May 2000
Demolition has begun on Evanston's Coronet Theater on Chicago Avenue near Main Street.
17 April 2000
The city of Chicago announced today that final agreement has been reached with developers to construct a large retail and condominium project on Block 37 of the Loop. Despite objections by preservationists, two historic movie theaters, the Roosevelt Theater and the United Artists Theater were demolished more than ten years ago to clear the site for redevelopment. Block 37 is bounded by State, Randolph, Dearborn, and Washington Streets, and in recent years has been home to a student art workshop and a wintertime ice skating rink.
31 March 2000
Movies have returned to the Century Shopping Center, formerly the Century Theater, on Clark Street just north of Diversey. Renovation work began in late 1998 (see below) and included a refurbishing of the Century's historic Arabesque façade, the only surviving part of the 1924 movie palace.
12 January 2000
The News-Star neighborhood newspaper reported that the 82-year-old Davis Theater at 4614 N. Lincoln Avenue is under contract for purchase by Special Real Estate Services, a local real-estate company. Although the future of the theater remains clouded, company officials affirmed their desire to keep the theater open, much to the relief of local residents and Lincoln Square alderman Eugene Schulter. Last month, area residents expressed their opposition the sale of the theater, concerned that developers would close the theater and replace it with condominiums.
|
