23 July 2003
During a hearing before the Cook County Board, a group of Chicago real estate developers dismissed naysayers and expressed confidence that an economically feasible plan to save and redevelop the historic Cook County Hospital is possible. "From a planning perspective I know that this building, the main building, can be converted for residential uses and other uses as well," said David Haymes of the Pappageorge/Haymes Ltd. planning firm. "This is an incredibly wonderful opportunity for the city to save a very major and unique piece of architecture... and I think we should give it a chance." The board, however, remains split over the hospital's future. County Board President John Stroger backs demolition and the county officials have advertised for bids to begin tearing down the old hospital later this year. Nevertheless, a majority on the board appear willing to entertain developers' proposals, at least for the time being, and have agreed to allow developers to inspect the building sometime in August. Cook County Hospital was built in 1914.
1 July 2003
The Chicago Tribune reported that the Hinsdale Theater Foundation has abandoned its efforts to take over lease payments and attempt to restore the historic Hinsdale Theater at 31 East 1st Street in west suburban Hindale, Illinois. The group had secured $4 million in pledges toward the project, but were unable to obtain a loan to cover construction costs until the pledges were received. The theater was built in 1925.
25 June 2003
The Tribune reported that the former Avalon Theater, currently operated as the New Regal Theater, will close at the end of the month. The theater's owners, Edward and Bettian Gardner, founders of Soft Sheen Products, said they were no longer willing to bankroll the money-losing theater. "We just cannot continue," Edward Gardner told the Tribune. "We're between the devil and the deep blue sea. The city won't allow us to sell the theater and they won't help us run it." He accused the city of slighting the theater because of its South Side location: "Two owners of the Chicago Theatre have been bailed out by the city. The city is very kind to the people downtown." The Gardners hope to sell the theater, perhaps to a church. If they do so, however, the city may demand repayment of a $1 million grant they received in 1987 with the stipulation that the theater remain a performing arts venue. The Gardners want the city to forgive the loan and allow the theater to be used for other purposes. Arnold Randall, deputy commissioner in the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, told the Tribune: "We're open to other opportunities with the Gardners and this theater. We don't think there is anything wrong with churches. We just don't believe that to be the highest and best use for this historic building." Located at 1645 East 79th Street, the Avalon was designed by renowned movie theater architect John Eberson and opened in August 1927.
24 June 2003
Citing agreements made with the city and state, Cook County Board President John Stroger reaffirmed his determination to demolish the historic Cook County Hospital during a committee meeting. In recent months, preservationists, citizen groups, and several members of the Cook County Board have criticized the county's plan to demolish the building without first investigating the feasibility of a private redevelopment project. Next Monday, commissioners are expected to vote on a resolution calling for a hearing before the Board in which developers would be given the opportunity to float proposals to rehab the structure. Cook County Hospital was built in 1914 and is one of the oldest existing public hospital buildings in the nation. The structure has been unoccupied since the opening of a new Cook County Hospital building in December 2002.
14 May 2003
The city of Chicago selected TheaterDreams Chicago, a for-profit group led by Lawrence J. Wilker, the former president of the Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as the new owner and operator of the historic Chicago Theater. As part of the deal, TheaterDreams Chicago paid $3 million for the theater and the city will write off its $21 million loan to the theater's previous owners, on which they had defaulted. According to the Tribune, "Wilker said no definite programming decisions have been made, but the theater planned to present a season of touring Broadway shows, popular music, dance, gospel shows and jazz musicians." The Chicago Theater opened in 1922 as part of the Chicago-based Balaban & Katz chain of movie palaces.
30 March 2003
The Rainbo Roller Rink at 4836 North Clark, part of historic Rainbo Gardens entertainment complex, closed for business, following a final adults-only, late-night skating session. The building's owner, Vicor Development Inc., plans to demolish the roller rink and build a condominium complex on the site. Restauranteur Fred Mann opened the original Rainbo Gardens night club and outdoor dance garden in 1922.
14 March 2003
The Tribune reported that officials at the Chicago planning department have narrowed the list of potential buyers of the Chicago Theater to two: TheaterDreams Chicago, a for-profit group led by Lawrence J. Wilker, the former president of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; and the Chicago Theatre Alliance, a joint venture of the Chicago Association for the Performing Arts, Jam Productions, and Broadway in Chicago, an offshoot of global media giant Clear Channel Worldwide Inc., which controls over 1200 radio stations and 35 television stations in the United States and has is currently under criticism for using its stations to organize rallies in support of war against Iraq. The two groups are scheduled next week to make separate presentations before the planning department committe that will select the winning bid. The city has not disclosed the purchase price offered by each group for landmark theater.
28 February 2003
The Tribune reported that Greenfield Partners LLC has purchased Evanston's Orrington Hotel from a subsidiary of Cigna Corporation, possibly with the intent of converting at least part of the historic hotel into condominiums. The Orrington, located at 1702 Orrington Avenue, opened in 1924.
1 February 2003
Demolition of the historic Plymouth Hotel and renovation of the adjacent Loren Miller/Goldblatt's and Sheridan Trust and Savings Bank buildings in Uptown has begun. As part of a $24.3-million redevelopment project recently dubbed "Uptown Square," J. Freed and Associates will replace the Plymouth Hotel with a two-story mixed-use structure and renovate the other two buildings for commerical and residential use.
24 January 2003
Cook County Circuit Court judge Sophia Hall denied a petition to issue a temporary restraining order against the impending demolition of historic Plymouth Hotel by its owner, developer Joseph Freed and Associates. An Uptown community organization, Broadway Terrace Development Corporation, filed the petition as part of a law suit against the city and the developer, claiming that the organization's proposal to redevelop the hotel and adjacent Loren Miller/Goldblatt's and Sheridan Trust and Savings Bank buildings had not received a fair review by city planning officials.
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