Chicago, IL - Congress Theater Hotel Rooms? They Are Part Of The Latest Overhaul Plans

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on July 23, 2016 at 3:51 am

From DNAInfo: The massive overhaul of the historic Congress Theater took a new twist Thursday, with news that plans could include an additional 10-story residential building across the street from the theater.

The new plans reveal the developer, New Congress LLC, also is considering building hotel rooms on the site.

The theater, 2136 North Milwaukee Ave., has been closed since 2013.

There have been multiple proposals presented by the developer over the last few years, but this is the first time the 10-story residential building has been considered.

That new building would be built on a vacant lot across Rockwell Street from the theater and could include 120 residences, according to the plans.

The development being proposed would permit the construction of 184 housing units.

The new proposal was first reported by the Chicago Architecture Blog.

The proposal has been submitted to the city’s Plan Commission and calls for either 32 residential units in the old theater building or 50 hotel rooms in the theater, along with commercial storefronts on the ground floor.

There will be no parking for either the theater site or the new 10-story building, as it is a transit oriented development, according to the plans that were submitted to the city Wednesday.

The plans also indicate the theater owner will install a large vertical marquee on the front of the Congress.

The community review of the proposal will begin shortly, according to Raymond Valadez, chief of staff for Ald. Joe Moreno (1st).

The alderman’s office has asked the developer to begin that process by scheduling a presentation with the Greater Goethe Neighborhood Association, the area community group, according to Valadez.

The owner of New Congress LLC, Michael Moyer, previously led the $20 million restoration of the Cadillac Palace Theatre Downtown.

Moyer could not be reached for comment.

The Congress Theater restoration project originally was floated as a $55 million plan.

In June, the owners of the theater sought landmark status for the 90-plus-year-old building.That designation would make the building eligible for federal preservation tax credits to cover 20 percent of the costs of renovation.

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks approved the Congress' bid to be sent to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council.

Part of the plan submitted to the city included details about a one-story addition to the theater as well as a rooftop deck.

Link to the story, with additional photos: https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160721/logan-square/congress-theater-developer-wants-10-story-building-on-milwaukee-report

ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org