What doesn’t seem to be mentioned here is that the Coronet was a renovation project. The building previously operated as a cinema under another name, and Park sounds right to me.
I understand the need for funding, and even profit. You guys put a lot of time into this venture for our enjoyment. But this advertising deal you struck is getting on my nerves. They may not be banner ads. But they are giant text solicitations right under the description where you can’t miss them. They would be better off at the bottom of each string. Look at ESPN’s web site as an example. Those guys have a similar advertising deal. But they place the content underneath each article. The ad is still very visible. But you don’t feel like it is being forced on you.
It is a very impressive project. They are investing a lot of money.
I’m looking at this old photo of yours B. It appears that the cornice is made of something other than terra cotta. I’m judging by the contrast to decoration on lower portions of the building. The cornice looks darker to my eye when I stare at it for a minute.
Nice of you to do that Bryan. It’s a great comment which vividly describes how important these places were to community life back in their prime years.
They are going great guns on this new development. Whatever argument you might have with the chain of events on Block 37 (and I have a few) it is nice to see something finally under construction there.
Oh my God. Listen to me: you are all a bunch of retards. Every one of you. Don’t you guys have lives? Don’t you have anything better to do than rip eachother on this web site?
It was half understandable when the theatre still stood because there was a heated issue being debated. But now the theatre is gone and you still babble on. This leads me to believe that it was never about the theatre to begin with.
Get off this web site and go mow your lawn or something.
I don’t think the person who set up the introductory credit was doing so with a great deal of particular intent. I think they simply knew the names of the two famous principals and listed them.
There is no doubt that the building was designed by the firm of Rapp & Rapp. The identity of the particular people within the firm who worked on this project is a subject that would require research.
Great photo set. That is about what I figured it looked like. The Varsity is sleeping silently above the first floor stores, waiting for the next chapter.
Here is an article from the Evanston Round Table, published last September:
Tax revenue this year from the Downtown II (Research Park) tax-increment financing (TIF) district centered on Maple Avenue north of Church Street will top the City’s budget forecast by nearly a million dollars.
The district, which includes the Century Theater complex, the Optima Views and Optima Horizons condo high-rises and the Hilton Garden Inn, is now assessed at $133.7 million, compared to $1.8 million when the district was created two decades ago.
The Cook County Clerk’s office last week reported that incremental tax revenue to the City from this TIF district this year will total $10.1 million, a 29-percent increase from last year and 10 percent more than the City had forecast.
The City has used revenue from this TIF to build the new Levy Senior Center on Dodge Avenue, replacing the old senior center located in the district, and to build the new Maple Avenue parking garage.
The Downtown II TIF is scheduled to expire in 2008. After that most of the increased revenue will start going to Evanston’s school districts.
The County Clerk’s figures show that the Washington National TIF, formed 12 years ago, topped the City’s revenue forecast by nearly 23 percent.
That district includes the area bounded by Church Street, Chicago Avenue, Davis Street and Benson Avenue, plus the former Marshall Field’s and Varsity Theater buildings and Fountain Square.
The Washington National TIF, created in 1994, was named for the now-defunct insurance company whose headquarters building once occupied the corner of Church Strret and Chicago Avenue. It now is home to the Park Evanston rental apartment high-rise and the Whole Foods market.
The Washington National TIF will generate $1.8 million in incremental tax revenue for the City this year. That is less than a fifth of what the Downtown II district provided, but the yield from the Washington National district is expected to grow dramatically once the Sherman Plaza condo and retail development is fully occupied later this year. Its valuation, now $48 million, has nearly doubled since its creation.
Revenue from the Washington National district has been used to construct the City’s new Sherman Plaza parking garage. The City has said it anticipates using additional revenue from that TIF to improve Fountain Square.
The Southwest (Sam’s Club) and Southwest II (Howard-Hartrey) TIFs showed little change in tax revenue this year. Combined, they will yield a total of $1.9 million in incremental tax revenue to the city. Their valuation has increased by about 400 percent since they were established in the early 1990s.
The City’s two newest TIF districts, Howard-Ridge and West Evanston, have seen little new development so far and will generate just $128,000 in incremental tax revenue to the City this year.
Yeah, I live many states away. I wouldn’t make a trip to Brooklyn just to see the latest Broadway musical. I would, on the other hand, send a contribution to the theatre if someone ran a legitimate capital drive.
You cannot save every one of these places. What would we do with the giant theatres like Chicago’s Tivoli and Paradise if they still stood, now in the middle of extremely depressed neighborhoods? These places were built because it was good business, just like opening a McDonalds. But running a movie palace hasn’t been good business for a long, long time.
It was all business for Rapp & Rapp as well. When they couldn’t make money building movie palaces any more they went on to design other things like banks, houses, and recreational buildings.
Basically I agree with you. I think the Dupage still had productive uses, and that Lombard blew an opportunity to make their community more attractive. But it is done now.
Some fights to save significant buildings are won and some are lost. There are plenty of examples of Rapp & Rapp left in the United States. I think you should ask yourself why you have a need to dwell on this one and weave the story into a conspiracy theory.
Yeah, you gotta understand that places like the Nortown were built in an entirely different business climate. Back then the thing was to drop a lavish theatre in the middle of a working class neighborhood. People were attracted to these fine buildings because they provided an avenue for the average guy to feel like royalty, and be entertained for a few cents. Air conditioning was also a pretty big deal. Fewer people had personal entertainment devices in their homes. Fewer people had cars, so many would walk. Others might travel a short distance on the steet car. The whole neighborhood would converge to see a show. Starbucks has used a similar strategy over the last fifteen years by dropping upper class coffee houses with exotic products in working class neighborhoods around Chicago, after initially only opening them in elite suburbs.
Imagine leaving your average Chicago apartment in the heat of summer and walking down the street toward the shimmering marquee of your air-conditioned neighborhood movie palace? It must have been pretty cool.
At this stage of the game most people can afford a window air conditioner, everyone has a TV, and the tendency is to try and feel like a big shot by buying a giant TV with surround sound. People like to go out to see new releases. But they don’t want to waste time with buses and street parking. They want to drive to the local AMC, pull into the lot and see the show. I love old theatres and even I feel that way.
I am really sorry to see the Nortown go, and I think they could have saved a section of it. But the idea of reusing this property for entertainment purposes definitely posed a lot of challenges.
Looks like it is still in excellent shape. I was a little worried that it might not have been properly secured after closing, as is so often the case. What a tragedy it would have been for the building to be vandalized after an expensive restoration.
The adult entertainment billboard right next to the UA in Ken’s first July 2007 photo is pretty funny. I wonder what the church officials think of that?!?
Hey SNWEB: General Motors reported an $893 million quarterly profit today, their third consecutive quarterly profit. All is not lost for the City of Detroit!
What doesn’t seem to be mentioned here is that the Coronet was a renovation project. The building previously operated as a cinema under another name, and Park sounds right to me.
Not uncommon. I suspect most of you guys know the story of Chicago’s Uptown Theatre. There are other examples across the country.
I understand the need for funding, and even profit. You guys put a lot of time into this venture for our enjoyment. But this advertising deal you struck is getting on my nerves. They may not be banner ads. But they are giant text solicitations right under the description where you can’t miss them. They would be better off at the bottom of each string. Look at ESPN’s web site as an example. Those guys have a similar advertising deal. But they place the content underneath each article. The ad is still very visible. But you don’t feel like it is being forced on you.
Business is business. Just sharing my thoughts.
It is a very impressive project. They are investing a lot of money.
I’m looking at this old photo of yours B. It appears that the cornice is made of something other than terra cotta. I’m judging by the contrast to decoration on lower portions of the building. The cornice looks darker to my eye when I stare at it for a minute.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwchicago/739550783/
Was the original River Oaks Theatre in fact torn down? Or is it still sitting there?
Cam strikes again. Excellent photoset Cam! Really captures the soul of the place.
Nice of you to do that Bryan. It’s a great comment which vividly describes how important these places were to community life back in their prime years.
They are going great guns on this new development. Whatever argument you might have with the chain of events on Block 37 (and I have a few) it is nice to see something finally under construction there.
Oh my God. Listen to me: you are all a bunch of retards. Every one of you. Don’t you guys have lives? Don’t you have anything better to do than rip eachother on this web site?
It was half understandable when the theatre still stood because there was a heated issue being debated. But now the theatre is gone and you still babble on. This leads me to believe that it was never about the theatre to begin with.
Get off this web site and go mow your lawn or something.
I don’t think the person who set up the introductory credit was doing so with a great deal of particular intent. I think they simply knew the names of the two famous principals and listed them.
There is no doubt that the building was designed by the firm of Rapp & Rapp. The identity of the particular people within the firm who worked on this project is a subject that would require research.
Come on guys, don’t start this crap again. Just let it go.
Great photo set. That is about what I figured it looked like. The Varsity is sleeping silently above the first floor stores, waiting for the next chapter.
Here is an article from the Evanston Round Table, published last September:
View link
6 September 2006 Vol. IX Number 17
TIF Revenues Top Budget Forecast
By Bill Smith
Tax revenue this year from the Downtown II (Research Park) tax-increment financing (TIF) district centered on Maple Avenue north of Church Street will top the City’s budget forecast by nearly a million dollars.
The district, which includes the Century Theater complex, the Optima Views and Optima Horizons condo high-rises and the Hilton Garden Inn, is now assessed at $133.7 million, compared to $1.8 million when the district was created two decades ago.
The Cook County Clerk’s office last week reported that incremental tax revenue to the City from this TIF district this year will total $10.1 million, a 29-percent increase from last year and 10 percent more than the City had forecast.
The City has used revenue from this TIF to build the new Levy Senior Center on Dodge Avenue, replacing the old senior center located in the district, and to build the new Maple Avenue parking garage.
The Downtown II TIF is scheduled to expire in 2008. After that most of the increased revenue will start going to Evanston’s school districts.
The County Clerk’s figures show that the Washington National TIF, formed 12 years ago, topped the City’s revenue forecast by nearly 23 percent.
That district includes the area bounded by Church Street, Chicago Avenue, Davis Street and Benson Avenue, plus the former Marshall Field’s and Varsity Theater buildings and Fountain Square.
The Washington National TIF, created in 1994, was named for the now-defunct insurance company whose headquarters building once occupied the corner of Church Strret and Chicago Avenue. It now is home to the Park Evanston rental apartment high-rise and the Whole Foods market.
The Washington National TIF will generate $1.8 million in incremental tax revenue for the City this year. That is less than a fifth of what the Downtown II district provided, but the yield from the Washington National district is expected to grow dramatically once the Sherman Plaza condo and retail development is fully occupied later this year. Its valuation, now $48 million, has nearly doubled since its creation.
Revenue from the Washington National district has been used to construct the City’s new Sherman Plaza parking garage. The City has said it anticipates using additional revenue from that TIF to improve Fountain Square.
The Southwest (Sam’s Club) and Southwest II (Howard-Hartrey) TIFs showed little change in tax revenue this year. Combined, they will yield a total of $1.9 million in incremental tax revenue to the city. Their valuation has increased by about 400 percent since they were established in the early 1990s.
The City’s two newest TIF districts, Howard-Ridge and West Evanston, have seen little new development so far and will generate just $128,000 in incremental tax revenue to the City this year.
Cool story!
Yeah, I live many states away. I wouldn’t make a trip to Brooklyn just to see the latest Broadway musical. I would, on the other hand, send a contribution to the theatre if someone ran a legitimate capital drive.
Even the offices are gone nowadays, I think. Am I right about that B?
Movie info:
http://www.metrotheatres.com/locations.htm
http://www.camasb.org/arlington-about.shtml
I think you are getting too excited TheaterBuff1.
You cannot save every one of these places. What would we do with the giant theatres like Chicago’s Tivoli and Paradise if they still stood, now in the middle of extremely depressed neighborhoods? These places were built because it was good business, just like opening a McDonalds. But running a movie palace hasn’t been good business for a long, long time.
It was all business for Rapp & Rapp as well. When they couldn’t make money building movie palaces any more they went on to design other things like banks, houses, and recreational buildings.
Basically I agree with you. I think the Dupage still had productive uses, and that Lombard blew an opportunity to make their community more attractive. But it is done now.
Some fights to save significant buildings are won and some are lost. There are plenty of examples of Rapp & Rapp left in the United States. I think you should ask yourself why you have a need to dwell on this one and weave the story into a conspiracy theory.
Yeah, you gotta understand that places like the Nortown were built in an entirely different business climate. Back then the thing was to drop a lavish theatre in the middle of a working class neighborhood. People were attracted to these fine buildings because they provided an avenue for the average guy to feel like royalty, and be entertained for a few cents. Air conditioning was also a pretty big deal. Fewer people had personal entertainment devices in their homes. Fewer people had cars, so many would walk. Others might travel a short distance on the steet car. The whole neighborhood would converge to see a show. Starbucks has used a similar strategy over the last fifteen years by dropping upper class coffee houses with exotic products in working class neighborhoods around Chicago, after initially only opening them in elite suburbs.
Imagine leaving your average Chicago apartment in the heat of summer and walking down the street toward the shimmering marquee of your air-conditioned neighborhood movie palace? It must have been pretty cool.
At this stage of the game most people can afford a window air conditioner, everyone has a TV, and the tendency is to try and feel like a big shot by buying a giant TV with surround sound. People like to go out to see new releases. But they don’t want to waste time with buses and street parking. They want to drive to the local AMC, pull into the lot and see the show. I love old theatres and even I feel that way.
I am really sorry to see the Nortown go, and I think they could have saved a section of it. But the idea of reusing this property for entertainment purposes definitely posed a lot of challenges.
Looks like it is still in excellent shape. I was a little worried that it might not have been properly secured after closing, as is so often the case. What a tragedy it would have been for the building to be vandalized after an expensive restoration.
The adult entertainment billboard right next to the UA in Ken’s first July 2007 photo is pretty funny. I wonder what the church officials think of that?!?
Hoop Dreams should be on your list.
Sorry Paul, it is Blues Brothers. I can’t help it if it is obvious. I love that movie.
Ferris Bueller is second on the list.
I think Smart Bar and the Artists Snack Shop are the only two places from that story that remain open, maybe the ballet studio too.
Hey SNWEB: General Motors reported an $893 million quarterly profit today, their third consecutive quarterly profit. All is not lost for the City of Detroit!