
According to today's Chicago Sun-Times, Live Nation, the concert promoter that developed the Charter One Pavillon at Northerly Island, is negotiating with the city to purchase and restore the Uptown Theatre. If successful, this could be the most important event in Uptown in the last two decades. The theatre has been empty since the early 1980's. Read more
here.
I recognize the novelty of the idea to do something that would actually generate revenue in the ward, but I say, let's go nuts and give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteThis place has been standing idle long enough and it's high time Helen becomes a driving force to breathe some life back into it.
If she can help make this happen, I will be the first (and loudest) one to stand on Lawrence and Broadway to sing her praises!
Note: I'm not blaming her for the fact that the Uptown has been dormant prior to her coming to office. I mean, one person can only do so much in two decades. And, she had been distracted by all of the success of WY, right?
We think you should sing Mary Ann's praises from Lawrence and Broadway since the Uptown Theatre is in the 48th Ward.
ReplyDeleteD'oh!
ReplyDeleteThen I stand corrected.
My apologies to Helen.
(geesh, is my face red)
um .. feel free to clean that slate, if you'd like.
Yes, Mary Ann Smith's ward actually runs down Broadway south to Leland - you know, where the development of anything decent stops.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange... you see the Uptown-Broadway Building, the Riv Building, the Borders building and the Broadview bank building, all the cool new bars & restaurants on Lawrence & Broadway, now possibly the Uptown Theatre itself... and then at Leland where Ward 48 ends... a convenience store? Lots of wholesale stores with gates on their windows? Unkempt parking lots? El tracks that look as though they may fall into the street any day?
ReplyDeleteIt's like night and day crossing over Leland on Broadway. Same thing to the west, where ward 47 takes over, with all the new development at Clark & Lawrence, although Helen doesn't spend nearly as much time trying to keep the northwestern area of the ward overrun by the poor and meek (because she lives there!!).
But there is all the dead space in between that is the land of the Almighty Wizard of Zilch.
Thankfully I'm in Ward 47, but 46 is practically in my back yard and it sucks to have to watch great potential get devoured by SRO's and very-low-income housing. Hopefully Schulter and Smith's wards will eventually overpower the fringe areas that are blighted and she'll have no choice but to let some redevelopment occur in those areas.
I can't wait until the redraw the wards and then I will be in Mary Ann Smith's.
ReplyDeleteRoeder's article in the Sun-Times is unusual in that it includes a two-sentence stab at answering the FAQ "who owns the Uptown?" which all other writers shy away from:
ReplyDelete"Ownership of the Uptown is a matter of litigation.
A first mortgage on the property is under the control of David Husman, chairman of Equibase Capital Group LLC. Husman has been sued by Jam Productions Inc. and Joseph Freed & Associates LLC, who acquired a second mortgage and claim Husman has unlawfully refused their offers to pay off $1.3 million due on the first mortgage."
Confusion about that south-pointing finger of the 48 has been a huge boon to Shiller.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should erect a "Welcome to the 48th Ward, Mary Ann Smith Alderman" sign on the north side of Leland at Broadway since there is so much confusion and credit being given to Shiller for the revenue generating businesses in that triangle and northward. Give credit where credit is due.
ReplyDeleteI think this is amazing news. I just hope that they do something about parking if this does happen. The parking situation is already a nightmare when the Riv or the Aragon have a show.
ReplyDeleteRegardless this is pretty good news.
Rumor had it that the Just Tires across the street was purchased this summer. Don't know by who - but can anyone confirm? Could this be a potential parking structure?
ReplyDeleteI heard about 6 months ago that just Tires was purchased and they were considering a Trader Joes and a parking structure to accommodate a possible Movie Theater and parking for concerts. Can't remember where I heard it or read it. Was a long time ago. Could have been rumor.
ReplyDeleteHope it gets re-developed and not trying to be negative but with the Nationwide Credit Crunch I don't think you will see a lot of new development in '08 or '09.
ReplyDeleteThe sub prime mess is really creating problems for other sectors of the economy.
I don't think a lot of companies will be expanding building new stores.
Couldn't the surface lot directly west of the theatre on Lawrence be turned into a large parking structure?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of ward boundaries, does anyone else find it ironic that Helen lives in an area (1200 block of W. Carmen) that is completely surrounded by the 48th ward? Foster to the North, Broadway to the East, Clark to the West and Winnemac to the south all fall within Ward 48. Odd that she would want to live as far as abolustely possible from her glorious ward center while still maintaining a ward 46 address.
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible for her to leave her house without walking through Mary Ann's ward.
The Aon/Combined Insurance parking lot just up the street from the Uptown Theatre (across from 5050 Broadway) currently provides parking for concerts at the Aragon, with shuttle bus service back and forth.
ReplyDeleteWith Aon moving out of Uptown, perhaps Live Nation might be interested in buying the parking structure and using it for theatre parking?
Shiller got the city to change the ward boundries so she could live there. Around her street it is like living in Lincoln Park. She took her own advice and created one for herself. Ironic she fights to keep the ward down but wants be a far aways as possible. Everyone who thinks this is crazy, look up the history of the boudries and you will see it change, which was when she purchased there. Our two faced Alderbeast.
ReplyDeleteremapping the wards is too important to be left to the aldermen
ReplyDeletenext time we need to get involved & stick with it or they will carve us up
get the addr of just tires
ReplyDeleteget the PIN here
ChicagoNEWS
then look it up here
Cook County Recorder
How could you forget? The 10 year political remap redistricted the Uptown Theatre to Mary Ann.
ReplyDeleteIn return, Mary Ann "ported" a low income housing activist organization, Organization of the Northeast (ONE)and an low income housing conversion on Leland and Clifton to us via a Lawrance Avenue TIF fund sharing arrangement to the Wilson TIF neighbors to the South.
How kind, I say. Lakeview isn't the only community that knows how to clean up its problems by dumping them into Uptown.
Hugh, Hugh, Hugh, you innocent babe. The remap is perhaps the most political instrument among politicians. Mere mortals, mere citizens, mere block club leaders and mere low level politicians have no say whatsoever in it's formation.
ReplyDeleteThe big boys play that game in the back room and duke it out in courts when they disagree. We only get to live with the end result Give it up.
Helen has no sway whatsoever over the remap. She is a political joke not a political powerhouse. Her longevity stems from the fact that she is useful to the Mayor and other Aldermen.
ReplyDeleteSo long as she pushes away city services from this area, they get our piece of the city services pie to feast on in their areas. Who is going to argue with that?
So long as she is willing to pack low income housing in here like sardines, they don't have to take any? Which other alderman is going to argue with that?
So long as she is willing to act as a special interest group and lobbyist legislator instead of representing the best interest of her own ward constituents, the other aldermen are relieved of the pressure to introduce special interest group legistlation. Which other alderman will argue with that?
She is the useful political whore who is nice to have around when you need her.
Here we go again. Restoration of the Uptown Theatre? It will never happen. What's the point of posting this. I have lived here for over 15 years. If I had a nickel for every time someone was going to fix up the Uptown Theatre, I wouldn't live here anymore. I'd be in Lincoln Park.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 5:52 since you have been here so long have you noticed any changes? Rhetorical question.
ReplyDeleteNow I too kinda doubt that this plan with the Uptown will come to fruition. Just based on past experience. However, at some point within the next few years I suspect something good will happen there. Who knows perhaps this plan will come into being in some form.
Who would have believed the changes around Lawrence and Broadway five years ago? I woulda. My guess is you wouldanota.
Good things are happening in Uptown. Some will happen quickly some will take years or decades, but it is like an oncoming train. Hard to stop no matter how fast or slow it is coming. I for one don't plan to be on the tracks.
The lot just behind the Uptown Theatre is a Zip Cars lot. When there is a show at A/R they use is for parking at a small fee of 25.00. I don't know how full the lot at AON gets during a show but it never fails, If there is a show i can not find parking in Sheridan Park from 6:30 to 10:30. I have a schedule printed out on my fridge when we want to do any shopping and need the car. If there is a sow, we don't use the car :( Not sure what would correct the situation. people are always going to want to park for free.
ReplyDelete"Me fail English? That's unpossible"
ReplyDeleteIf the theater plan goes through and we have a show that can sit 3000+ people, parking in the area will be a nightmare. Does anyone know what it takes to have your area marked as permit only parking like in Wrigleyville?
ReplyDelete"Does anyone know what it takes to have your area marked as permit only parking like in Wrigleyville?"
ReplyDeleteThink ya' need to hit up the City with a request to review the situation.
Any inconvenience in terms of parking would be well worth it to have this jewel reopened. Think of how awesome that block will be if The Uptown is restored. I would think any responsible restoration would consider parking/public transportation needs.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Urban Land Institute did their study of the retail area of Uptown, it was mentioned that the restoration of the Uptown Theatre would be pivotal for the area. I believe Ald. Smith understands the dire need for parking and would address that as well. A few spots have been identified by this same ULI study for parking as well, which was also identified as needed to bring in more diverse & vibrant retail.
ReplyDeleteWe've all been disappointed before, but again, this is showing some promise. I've found that one of the characteristics of many Uptown residents (other than being quite determined) is that we are also hopeful about Uptown. The glass remains half-full.
I worked with a company that recently took a hard look at the Theatre. In addition to the rehab cost (anywhere from $40-$60 million depending on the use) the other main issue they hit on was parking. Not only from a neighborhood convenience standpoint but, if you want to market to more affluent suburban types (as downtown does), you really need convenient, concentrated parking. Having to hunt down a space somewhere west of Clark or (worse) near the lake and walkng isn't really a good option).
ReplyDeleteThe ULI study in question identified 3 major areas which could support parking structures (albeit they recommended having first floor commercial in each). Two have already been identified, west of the Aragon (north of Lawrence) and just west of the Uptown Theatre. The other was to close down Clifton btw Broadway and Lawrence and to use that space together with the neighboring parking lot to build a parking structure.
For anyone who hasn't looked at it, I would really recommend getting a copy of the ULI report. It provides a very good (and still mostly relevant) road map for what Uptown could become (someday, maybe...)
I don't see anyone putting 40 to 60 million in it anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think the planned Parking Structure Retail West of Aragon will not make it in the current real estate market.
If they need parking for the Uptown, there is a huge closed funeral home north on Broadway. It is several blocks, but could easily handle a large parking structure.
ReplyDeleteThe Uptown would be a massive draw for our area. All the extra traffic would truly help all the new/pioneering business that has come to the area & struggles.
As for Helen, I don't care for her & it's pretty obvious most others don't either. So how did she get re-elected?
To the last commenter:
ReplyDeleteHere is how Helen got re-elected it was simple:
She got more votes than her opponent in the race and if there was illegal voting going on her opponent didn't challenge it.
So it's fair to say she won and was most voters choice no matter how stupid they must be.
Anon, the city would probably love to zone where-ever you live as permit parking only. As a Kenmore resident, where zone parking was recently added, the city makes a fortune every night of an Aragon show. But revenue for the city is all that comes from it. There is still zero parking on Kenmore the night of a show. It doesn't help the parking situation at all.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to bet. I bet Da Mayor does not want this to happen. Take away from his downtown. But I still think he is under the impression that the city ends at Irving P. Road. So we may be good.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #28
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can get permit parking zones anymore. I thought I read that the city just put a moratorium on them because the city overall had too many. Helen always fought against them in this area so only a few areas in 46th ever received them, and those are primarily related to Cubs parking issues on the South end if I am not mistaken.
Speaking of Aragon Parking, I've always wondered if what, if anything, the city gets paid for use of 4824 N Winthrop, which is the city-owned lot that is the Aragon parking lot on the North side of the Aragaon building. It probably has another one of those sweetheart leased like the Challenger Park lot that the Cubs use for virtually nothing in renewable perpetuity. I stumbled onto this when I was checking the Dept of Planning's online LIS database of city owned lots.
ReplyDelete