A reader sends in the following link and comment:"They just made this deal in NY... NYC pays 50 million...15 million tax break...developer pays $5 million and any overages... win win win for Flatbush section of the city!
Wish this could happen to the Uptown Theatre!"
Read the article here
Im sure I'll upset a few of you but- TEAR IT DOWN! How long has this eyesore been falling apart? Tear it down.
ReplyDeleteOnly thing it's good for is the birds- and they will find a new place to go.
TEAR IT DOWN!
The Uptown is one of greatest movie palaces still standing in this country. Can't the local, state or federal governments scrape enough money together to save this national treasure? Imagine the turnaround the neighborhood would experience if Uptown became a magnet for live entertainment in Chicago. We've already got The Riviera, The Aragon and The Green Mill. I think the owner intends to bring back The Uptown as a venue for first class concerts. If nothing is done, imagine the horror of replacing such a unique and beautiful building with a condo tower, office block, strip mall or parking lot.
ReplyDeleteThe Uptown is actually in better shape than the Loew's Kings, and, with the upcoming restoration of the Kings, the Uptown is the only mega movie palace left in the country that hasn't been restored.
ReplyDeleteThe Kings has been closed longer than the Uptown, since 1977 (Uptown closed in 1981). The Oriental theatre downtown closed in '81 as well, and didn't reopen again until 1998. Sometimes, these big theatres do remain "eyesores" until the right restoration project comes along. Keep the faith.
Keep the faith? it's been waaay to long.
ReplyDeleteThis place is never going to be brought back to life. It's sad but it's also reality.
Perhaps if were in another ward?
TEAR IT DOWN
Nash,
ReplyDeleteit is in the 48th Ward.
To paraphrase my deceased Irish dad you aren't fit to put a patch on the buttock of the Uptown Theater.
One day the Uptown Theater will be back in all it's glory. It may be five years or it may be twenty, but it will happen.
You will still be an ugly and petty little man.
Well yes I will be- no argument there, but the Uptown is mired in such a legal, and financial mess that I doubt it will ever see the light of day. Do you honestly think the 48th ward is going to spend the 60+ Million $$$ (an estimate that I've seen- I've also seen $120 M) to fix a theatre? Then there is the parking issue, and that will be in Shiller's ward (well hopefully she will be gone by then). At any rate- this is just my opinion and I value yours as well. It's sad that's it's left to rot. The city needs other things than this. Tear it down.
ReplyDeleteRemember the Granada? They tore that down. And guess what? No big whoop.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nash- the Uptown- while one a grand piece of architecture- is now an eyesore. Uptown and Chicago need other things than this.
Remember the Spartans?
ReplyDeleteWell they held the line and we have Western Civilization, such as it is, because of that. We here in Uptown are like the Spartans. Only I'm scarier and growl like a lion. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
The Uptown will be back. Just like the Chicago Theater and the smaller Music Box and even the Portage Theater.
Tearing down the Uptown will accomplish nothing, but leaving a big empty lot for five or more years.
As for parking with Aon leaving the hood, the Truman Garage and even the Target there is now enough parking nearby for the Uptown. I have a suspicion part of the undeclared rationale for the Truman garage was to provide parking for the Uptown.
There is this thing called public transportation and cabs that would probably bring thousands of people to any Uptown event.
Most of the money to refurbish the Uptown would come from private funds. The ownership which is tangled will again find it's hand forced by the city, courts and eminent domain if necessary.
I believe in Hope and Change.
You guys ask "how's dat hopey and changey thang goin" while looking at the palms of your hands for notes.
ARRRRRRRRRRRGH