DuPage Theater

There you go folks. Last fundraiser was 10 months ago. Does this sound like a hard fought restoration battle? Like I said before your attitude is “why fundraise when the taxpayers could foot the bill”. Many people went to see that band (Ides of March?), NOT to save the theatre.

I don’t know what ‘propaganda’ you are talking about. Seriously.
Am I more qualified than Daniel Coffey at what?

$5.5 million in pledges…where in the bank? SHOW ME THE MONEY! That’s paper money and the Village shouldn’t gamble on paper money.

Deb, there was a pancake breakfast back on 2000 or 2001. The pot-luck dinner netted $1000. I also bought a lemonade from your group at a cruise night.

Gala events!!! The 75th party had 195 people at it. Big Deal, the same 195 people at your rally (as you say, really 60), or at the pot-luck dinner, or who have signs. That’s what you need to get a clue about. We are a town of 44,000. There is no support except just you few. You need millions and you are collecting thousands.

Answer my question from before. When was your last fundraiser?

I also have a direct quote from another ‘friend’ who wants taxpayer $$ to pay for it. Now another ‘friend’ is attacking the park district…hmm could you guys want money from them??

I do agree with you 100% about the library referendum.

You guys had 6 years. This current plan stinks. 86 condo’s in a too small area.

My vision for saving it. Remove the marquee, ticket booth, etc. Develop the block (Library or other)only if the stuff removed is incorporated into it.

Rita, You are wrong on so many counts:

I was in the theatre 2 years ago…took a tour. Had to leave early because the mold smell was too much. I did like the gaping hole in the ceiling and the fact that you can see sunshine through the bricks. I like how you failed to mention the safety fence around the building because bricks are falling off.

There is financial support? How much do you have in the bank..$1200 for six years work. How much have you brought in this year?

So if the business report was run for an estimated 800 or 600, how much $$ for 499 seats. Far less I would guess.

“Cost overruns are the new scare tactic” Sorry Rita, cost overruns are a reality. Nobody with a clue can argue that.

Don’t let Rita fool you. This has been going on for over 6 years, 20 if you count the other ordeals. Now it has become a joke. Like Paul posted up above “The DuPage can be saved if a few smart people get rid of old ideas and notions and use modern marketing and finance tools.” They have failed miserably at this. Instead they had pot-luck dinners and pancake breakfast’s all attended by the same 200 people. Their fundraising efforts stopped years ago. Why? Because it is easier for the taxpayers to pay for it.

Paul,
The DuPage Theatre which was given to Lombard by Big Idea Corporation 6 years ago is not in the kind of disrepair that “Challenger” reports. I suspect “Challenger” has not even stepped foot into the theatre since Big Idea handed over the building. Big Idea actually started renovation on the building before they determined the property was too small for their quickly growing company. They completed an estimated $1.5 million in demolition, and then “gave” the property to the Village. The theatre is ready and waiting for restoration. In fact, the Friends took great pride in caring for the building. Several clean up days were organized and proved successful in keeping the building safe from further damage. It is only now that the Friends do not have control over the building, that the fear that damage to architectural masterpieces such as the perfect condition terrazzo floor or the rare and ornate ticket booth in the promenade will get damaged due to neglect.

There is financial support, and a lot of it. But, because the Village of Lombard has repeatedly put road blocks in the way of progress, such as the current vote to demolish, public corporations as well as private citizens find it very hard to open their wallets. It is somewhat a chicken before the egg scenario. The Village wants the money before they support the project, and the support for the project needs to be there before the money comes.

A business report developed with the second Ad Hoc Committee in 2002 determined that the need for a cultural arts center is indeed needed in the area. The report estimated an annual visitor number conservatively at 86,000. The financial portion of the report was equally as positive. With the theatre dark for half of the year, and a rental fee of less than $1000 a night, the theatre would turn a profit. Because of Foundation not-for-profit status, this scenario was more than exceptable. By the way, this was based on 600 seats. The current proposal on the table originally placed close to 800 seats in the theatre, which was corrected to 500 to allow for Village parking requirements.

Cost overruns are the new scare tactic. This project is fully funded WITHOUT ANY FUNDRAISING. Fundraising would begin the day the ink dries on the contracts. It is currently estimated that there is over $5 million in donations ready to be given. The proposal also includes an overrun contingency of 12%.

Paul, the Foundation and the Friends have done EVERYTHING the Village has asked them to do. They have given them a proposal that with the proper care could bring the life back to this Main Street. All the Village needs to do is approve the project to continue to Zoning. Yet, they have stopped it once again.

Paul to answer your four “IF” points

1) The building is in such disrepair that restoring it is unfeasible.
2) The project has very little finanical support.
3) The theatre will have trouble generating bookings and the place will sit empty most of the time.
4) The theatre won’t generate enough revenue, and we have asked who or how the cost overruns will be covered and never get an answer.

And the owner of the Tivoli and other “Classic” cinemas has passed on the opportunity of the Dupe many times it seems…if they can make a go of it with their others it only makes sense for the old DuPage to come into their fold. Gee, could there really be a reason why this theatre has been passed over?

So true Paul…the big “IF’s” are the downfall of this project. The building is in disrepair, private financial support is nearly non-existent, the bookings are a crap-shoot for a now only 499 seat theatre (reduced the seating to address parking issues)that is NOT going to be a movie theatre again but instead “rented” for the arts like ballet and dance recitals, live theatre, and other events. It’s not like one would have been able to pull up on Saturday to see what movie or event is playing that evening.

It is very difficult…and the supporters have tried for years. The reality of the game is that the game is over. And more condos is the fix they came up with…86 more condos literally wrapped all around the theatre from top to bottom. I for one can’t see a “luxury condo” owner all too pleased with living right above the theatre marquee!

This DuPage situation has gone on for too long. The big “IF’s” have done her in.

No warning? The clock was ticking for years. The village board took away the keys only after years of false starts and unfunded dreams. Then out of the blue comes this so called white knight proposal from RSC. This coming from the same group that only months before was “anti-condo” then decides to add 86 units around the theatre as it is the only salvation. Only problem is the so called new plan includes only $110,000 in so called “private” funds (pledges, not money in the bank) for the well over $8.5 million dollar project that they continually claim is fully funded. Fully funded via tax dollars when one realizes that $4 million is coming from the non-existent TIF extension, $2 million from the developer in exchange for the sale of the land and a so called donation, and tax credits and federal funds. Not one penny in private dollars to build what will become a village owned money pit. The trustees have been more than patient. One needs to take a ride down Main Street to truly appreciate what an eyesore this really is. Check out the photos at www.dupagetheatre.com
Read the enlightening discusssion and chat about all that is going on in the village’s fascinating public forum at www.lombardvillagevoice.com

I believe that this theater could be saved but the city council must support it. By supporting it, I don’t mean finacially. They must say that they are willing to coorporate with someone willing to save it. No developer will take on this project without city council support, nor can any non-profit group raise funds for restoration.

I realize that the “Freinds” group has problems. It is unfortunate that the group could not get its act together to save this theater. But the council played dirty by giving no warning about demolishion. The could have told the “Freinds” they had to have X amount of dollars in the bank by the end of this year or the theater is demolished.

This has been one of the most interesting forums on ANY theater so far!!! I liked the editorial with Daniel Coffey’s renderings in the Tribune today, and really think this thing could work. I have seen theaters in WORSE shape, particularlly the Toronto Pantages Theater, which was split into a sixplex that destroyed a good percentage of it’s interior. AND was replicated and reopened into a beauty. Of course, Toronto is NOT Lombard, and might not have enough residents who would venture out to live theater like downtown Chicago. We have so many more options for entertainment, and staying home these days seems cheaper and safer. Most venues like this thrive on a certain age bracket, usually 20-30 years of age. BUT…..keep arguing!!! Who knows? Someone might listen, and WHATEVER your views, one way or another, this will SOON draw to a close. I have to acknowledge the fact that soon Chicago will lose the Gateway Theater/Copernicus Center in the Jefferson Park neighborhood to a very tempting condo developer that’s a convenient spot just a few blocks away from the blue line and Metra. Progress SUCKS!!!

‘DebDupe’, do you even know what an editorial is?

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always uncertainty. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), thre is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans—-that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and materials assistance, which no man could have dreamt would come his way. —-Scottish expedition, Mt. Everest

I have lived in Lombard all my life (all except 6 years spent in Chicago). My family lives here, my friends live here. I bought a home here almost 6 years ago. I am raising my children here. The first movie at the DuPage Theatre that I remember was ET because we had to wait in a line that wrapped around the building. Santa came there every Christmas. There were many other free shows for kids that my parents took me to as well. My friends and I went there almost every weekend during our high school years. It was cheap, and somewhere we could walk to where our parents knew we would be. I remember seeing the Star Wars, Nightmare on Elm Street and Purple Rain, among many others. My husband and I had our first date there—-Basic Instinct (not the best first date movie, but the smooching seats in the back row were great!) I could go on, but I hope this “qualifies” me as someone who has the right to speak out in favor of theatre restoration.