DuPage Theater
109 S. Main Street,
Lombard,
IL
60148
109 S. Main Street,
Lombard,
IL
60148
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 976 - 1,000 of 1,253 comments
Not that you could since you don’t even have access anymore….just so sad that you friends don’t embrace the idea of partial restoration with the library. This weeks Lombardian was actually a little more balanced. Thank goodness the “detractor faction” is growing.
Challenger,
Your source continues to be one of bad info. We didn’t have it removed.
Deb, thanks for dispelling the rumor. Good luck at the August 18 meeting. How many friends are expected to talk about the same thing this time around?
If the city owns it, shouldn’t they be the ones responsible for maintaining it until they decide what to do?
Challenger,
Your source continues to be one of bad info. We didn’t have it removed.
Rumor has it the ‘friends’ of the theatre had their sump pump removed from the building. This building has a history of flooding. Why would they put the theatre in harm’s way?
Once again, posting against the theatre on this site does nothing to help the situation. The village board now needs to hear residents support for alternatives to the failed RSC plan. It sounds like most theatre/RSC detractors (myself included), are in support of the library at the theatre site. If we generate the same energy towards a LAMP (Library AT Main and Parkside) resolution, we can realize a complete and total victory over the RSC plan. Remember, most theatre supporters have claimed the board was acting foolishly to vote against the RSC plan by alleging the property would sit vacant for years if their plan wasn’t passed.So if you are against the RSC plan, this should only be a halftime break. Get off this message board and contact your elected officials and support them on their decision and also offer your vision of what’s best for Lombard in a post RSC plan.
And to think Ms. Dynako is the “official” communication director for the Friends of the DuPage Theatre…and as long as she continues to spout out her mistruths on the RSC plan, the “retractors” need to keep things in check. The friends and the foundation are for the most part the same. One need only look at their website to see they are tightly joined with the same message and, for the most part, the same so called leadership. The sad part is the local paper is on their side and fails to report anything other than “pro theatre” dialogue (and a few detractor Speak Outs and letters now and then). And Dupe Neighbor, you are so right. The problems of the theatre are right in the mirror of the supporters…and yet they continue to blame our Village Board.
And has been said time and time again, if egos could simply be checked at the door, the library effort is the best and last chance to make something happen. It can get it on the spring ballot for a referendum to preserve theatre components and bring a new library to the village. If this is not embraced today, the friends will soon be left with only a book of memories instead of a new place that has theatre components and a place to check out new books. Go for it friends…embrace this plan and make it work. It really is your only chance
I have spent the last hour reading the posts on this page. I would suggest that those opposed to the theatre and the plan attached to it, should stay off of a restoration site. I live on the block adjacent to the theatre, which I believe qualifies me to oppose the variances requested in the RSC plan, but unless you are here to share ideas that would support the Dupage Theatre’s restoration, this is not the place to rant. There is a board meeting this Thursday. Show up there and speak publicly if you have issue. Let the people registered on this site have their forum and exchange ideas. Maybe they can come up with some sound alternatives to demolition that we can all appreciate and enjoy.
You’ve never been opposed to referendum and yet you NEVER initiated one? Forget the last one you squashed…ancient history. I had nothing to do with that. What about since then? That was years ago!
I believe that was a tactical error and you’re probably right, it probably is too late.
I never said you didn’t have a right to speak and yes, it is our duty to question elected officials HOWEVER if you are hoping to change the minds of these same officials or appeal to the general public, I believe you went around it the wrong way. It doesn’t matter if I’m upset – what about those on the fence? Do you think you helped?
For you to say I hid in the shadows and takes snipes at people shows you’re a poor sport who is unable to listen to anyone with viewpoints that differ from their own. I have written 2 editorials to the newspaper with my name attached, walked door to door to talk to my neighbors about the RSC plan, signed 2 petitions and attended 2 board meetings. Two neighbors of mine spoke for the neighborhood to show our support for the defeat of the RSC plan. Does that sound like I’m in the shadows? You should be welcoming suggestions from people like me who are looking for alternatives to demolition that this town will support. Instead you imply I’m a sniping coward.
Readers of this site – you’ve heard my views, I would love a library/theatre. Will it happen? Who knows, but you’ve witnessed first hand why the problems of the Dupe here in Lombard are not getting solved. I’m not sure they ever will…
Have a great evening.
Sorry, I wasn’t insinuating anything, Dupe neighbor. Just wondering how you got that feeling about the November demolition is all.
The Foundation and the Friends both support saving the theatre. The Foundation was instituted by the Village. The Friends are Lombard citizens who support theatre restoration. That is the difference.
Honestly, I don’t know what plan is more compelling—-or speculative as you put it—-the RSC plan or a potential library plan. I’d love to let the voters decide. Again, we’ve never been opposed to referendum, you just think we’ve been. The previous question on the table was ILLEGAL pure and simple. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t have gotten thrown off the ballot, would you agree? If your side and mine got together to pose a LEGAL question, we would support the effort 100%.
Again, I have as much right to speak as anyone. I have a right to question my elected official. He’s been telling untruths, quite frankly, and holding the office he does gives him credibility he is using to perpetuate the untruths. I’ve only questioned the figures he’s spouted out to the media. And he won’t give me an answer as to where his figures came from. That’s all I’m asking from him. Sorry you’re upset about that, but you seem quite upset about all sorts of financial figures pertaining to this project. Don’t you want to know why he’s saying $15 million instead of $8.5 million? That’s a huge difference—-and he is NOT an expert in restoration.
It’s your right to stay in the shadows and take snipes at people. It’s my right to stand up and ask that my elected official be held accountable for all he says and does in his position from the dais.
One more thing…parking garages burn more money than they take in. Usually municipalities have to raise taxes (usually business-related & local sales taxes) to pay for them, i.e. Naperville. Look it up!
The foundation and the Friends are mostly the same people and you know it but it doesn’t matter… As far as the library goes on that corner what’s the big concern about TIF? TIF is not designated solely for renovating old theatres but all business. If the voters vote to pay for the library there and you can get the theatre incorporated into it, why wouldn’t that be ideal? Besides, what if the library/theatre could incorporate some retail so TIF could be used but not at the unprecedented levels the RSC plan wanted to?
You mentioned how the public should decide between the library and the RSC plan – How? Could it be…referendum?
The library will cost money, the library will cost money. Here we go again. My answer? The voters will decide, the voters will decide. I’m happy with that – how bout you? I will vote to support a tax increase for the new library especially with some retail and a parking garage to generate taxes. I honestly feel that would be the best for our downtown, if the theatre or part of it can be saved too – more’s the better.
Well folks, as you can see, the Friends will not pursue anything but their beloved condo/arts center plan. Their inability to see outside the box is apparent. What can you say?
“Interesting that I have that feeling”… what does that mean? Are you insinuating that I am part of some secret circle that knows something? Well, let’s see one trustee already said it may be down by winter and the vote to demolish was 2 months ago. Why is November interesting? Sounds logical to me?
Honestly – I believe the RSC plan is dead. The HUGE returns on the investment you’re expecting are speculative at best. If you want to keep arguing it and wasting time, go ahead. I believe it’s counterproductive at this crucial time. As far as the Friends self-destructing, I’m sorry but after you and Barb A spoke, I couldn’t believe the disrespect shown to the board. Even if you feel that way – how can you expect to convince them to change their minds by being rude?
What’s next for the Dupe? Only time will tell, I hope someone tries the library idea. It would definitely be a win win if the voters went that way.
The condo project was presented to the Village Board by the DuPage Theatre Foundation—-as requested by the Village. The Friends did not bring the plan forward, but we do support it. Dupe neighbor, if the library goes on that corner, there will be no TIF dollars to be had. The only way to get TIF is to have a tax generating building there. That’s not the definition of a library.
The Friends are not self-destructing. We’re as committed as ever to save the theatre. Again, if you hold up a library project against the RSC plan (which only has a height variance necessary at this point), let the community decide which would be better—-and go from there. The RSC plan, no matter how you may try to twist it, will NOT raise property taxes. The library will—-no matter where it is built. That’s a fact. TIF money used on the theatre could only be used there because of how the TIF works. That’s a fact. Do you want your property taxes to go up even more than they are now?
Yes, life is a gamble. But the the odds are completely against us with regards to a property tax increase for a new library at that corner. With the RSC plan, the risk to this town is little to none—-with HUGE returns on investment.
Demolition before November. Interesting that you have that feeling…
Did she really just say that “as residents, shouldn’t we all be given a choice, with the price tags to go along with each plan” and “public hearings on the matter would do the town good”
Boy Deb, you are starting to sound like the rest of us.. How come you didn’t feel that way about the condo building you wanted to build that was higher and bigger than codes would allow and would have required millions of OUR allotted TIF dollars?
You also refer to the library as a “pretty big gamble”. This from someone who spent a paragraph telling us about how life is full of risks and even though we thought the theatre was risky we should support it! C'mon Deb – move on and start thinking library. I think the theatre, or part of it, may be able to be saved as part of the library. How creative and useful is that? Either as a theatre or as part of the library itself? Can you imagine sitting in the audiotorium with the starry sky ceiling above us choosing or reading a good book? How about the old ticket booth used to sell tickets to the childrens shows and reading programs the library has?
I don’t think the Friends are at fault for the theatres demise. I think Lombardians apathy was a huge factor BUT since the June 2 vote, I think the Friends have been self-destructing, especially the board meeting antics.
Either way – I have a feeling that demolition will take place before November and that is going to come fast. Time to get serious.
Did she really just say that “as residents, shouldn’t we all be given a choice, with the price tags to go along with each plan” and “public hearings on the matter would do the town good”
Boy Deb, you are starting to sound like the rest of us.. How come you didn’t feel that way about the condo building you wanted to build that was higher and bigger than codes would allow and would have required millions of OUR allotted TIF dollars?
You also refer to the library as a “pretty big gamble”. This from someone who spent a paragraph telling us about how life is full of risks and even though we thought the theatre was risky we should support it! C'mon Deb – move on and start thinking library. I think the theatre, or part of it, may be able to be saved as part of the library. How creative and useful is that? Either as a theatre or as part of the library itself? Can you imagine sitting in the audiotorium with the starry sky ceiling above us choosing or reading a good book? How about the old ticket booth used to sell tickets to the childrens shows and reading programs the library has?
I don’t think the Friends are at fault for the theatres demise. I think Lombardians apathy was a huge factor BUT since the June 2 vote, I think the Friends have been self-destructing, especially the board meeting antics.
Either way – I have a feeling that demolition will take place before November and that is going to come fast. Time to get serious.
Did she really just say that “as residents, shouldn’t we all be given a choice, with the price tags to go along with each plan” and “public hearings on the matter would do the town good”
Boy Deb, you are starting to sound like the rest of us.. How come you didn’t feel that way about the condo building you wanted to build that was higher and bigger than codes would allow and would have required millions of OUR allotted TIF dollars?
You also refer to the library as a “pretty big gamble”. This from someone who spent a paragraph telling us about how life is full of risks and even though we thought the theatre was risky we should support it! C'mon Deb – move on and start thinking library. I think the theatre, or part of it, may be able to be saved as part of the library. How creative and useful is that? Either as a theatre or as part of the library itself? Can you imagine sitting in the audiotorium with the starry sky ceiling above us choosing or reading a good book? How about the old ticket booth used to sell tickets to the childrens shows and reading programs the library has?
I don’t think the Friends are at fault for the theatres demise. I think Lombardians apathy was a huge factor BUT since the June 2 vote, I think the Friends have been self-destructing, especially the board meeting antics.
Either way – I have a feeling that demolition will take place before November and that is going to come fast. Time to get serious.
I’m not a zealot. Give me a break. It would seem that both you and fiscal insanity are living a fantasy. The library is going to cost tens of millions to build. Do you really think it will pass referendum? That’s a pretty big gamble. Which means, if it doesn’t pass, what do you think will go in it’s place on that corner? As residents, shouldn’t we all be given a choice, with the price tags to go along with each plan? Shouldn’t everything be laid to bare so that we know exactly what we’re looking at? What you’re proposing is pretty far fetched…have you asked the park district what they want to do with the library building once they own it? I’ve heard they want a “fitness center” there. That would mean, no outdoor concert venue or arts center. Actually, I think public hearings on the matter would do the town good. That way, even the ideas you bring to this board would have the proper forum to be heard—-the right all of us have. I personally am not against any project that would save the theatre…
But really, in the end, the only people that can be blamed for the demise of the DuPage Theatre are the Lombard Village Board members who voted that way.
Our new library indeed will be the pinnacle of vision and historic significance in our town. She will rise as the personification of what a library truly should be…a library for all the residents of our community and not simply some unfunded cultural dream for a few theatre zealots. A library that embraces the facade of what once was. A library that preserves historic elements of the theatre but in a facilty that will be embraced by all the residents. A library that will become a true showplace and example of creative reuse of a historic structure. The friends better jump on this wagon before it is too late…..too late for all the residents. If they fail to hitch on this ride, the theatre’s fate has only one group that can be blamed for its demise: The Friends of the DuPage Theatre.
Raze her except for the facade…and build a library.
Nice catch on the spelling.
Right now your political credit card is maxed out and the Village Council is going to start collecting interest on Thursday.
Instead of clinging to this fantasy – if you’re really all about “culture” and “the arts”, then you should be ready to present an alternative site in order to have a fine arts presence in Lombard.
I’ve given one alternative more than the Friends of the DuPage. What’s your contingency? Do you have one? When the wrecking ball comes down, are you going to move on to another town, or stay and CREATE (not just build) something spectacular?
I agree. Raise the Dupe! Raise her to the prominent level she deserves. Raise her up as a pinnicle of vision and historical significance for our town. Raise her as the personification of what cultural arts truly means.
Just don’t RAZE her.
>>>>We will become the laughing stock of northern Illinois!
Spare me. The lack of creative thinking by the “Friends of the Dupe” doesn’t bode well for a building designed for creativity.
I offered a great alternative that would create a cultural oasis in Lombard and get us a new library while we’re at it. I’ll repeat it:
current library site, where patrons can REALLY enjoy
the arts under the stars, and give Lombard a first-
class facility for the arts.
Why is this not an agreeable alternative? We’ve got a beautiful park setting with Lilacia as a backdrop. Be a little creative! That’s how good towns become great. The DuPage is past. Let it go. Do something better.
Tap dancing AND selective hearing.
Library Library Library.
They refuse to respond because instead of saving the structure at all costs, they want it their way (it’s not Burger King, you know!)
They want their condo plan and will settle for nothing less.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking down towards demolition…
Thursday night should be interesting
DuPage Dude. Not tap dancing at all. I’ve answered your question regarding petitions. Unless they’re binding, they won’t hold water. A trustee can vote any way he chooses and doesn’t have to give reasons. He’s protected that way by law. I’m sorry you don’t approve of the things I’ve said to my trustee. He has made many misstatements in the press and no one has asked him why he made such statements. As my elected trustee, he needs to be accountable for the statements he makes. If we made claims that were untrue, no doubt you would take us to task…
I think the first show the Friends put on should be a dance recital, since they are tap dancing around my questions and spouting rhetoric. We can all read the web site and the press releases, but what about some answers?
Ms. Dynako-if the overwhelming majority of a Trustee’s district signs a petition in favor of restoration, even a non-binding one, won’t that put them in a position where they would have to vote in favor of restoration? They would have a LOT of explaining to do if they still voted no, wouldn’t they. Ovbiously, veiled threats against Trustees did no good, in fact, I think it hurt your cause!
Look at what even anti-theatre people say “ Even a non-binding referendum would give the Friends an enormous amount of momentum behind their efforts at the state level, so I’m not sure why they’re not clamoring for ANY kind of vote.” Yet the Friends think they know better. It’s their arrogance that will be their downfall.
Of course I have let me voice be heard, but actions by the “Friends” are snuffing them out!!!