PILSEN — The owners of historic landmark Thalia Hall are being honored for their work to bring the long-vacant Pilsen gem back to life.
Reopened as a theater and mixed-use development and 2013 and 2014, respectively, the Thalia Hall restoration project is a 2015 recipient of the Chicago Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Award, the organization announced this week.
The awards are bestowed on projects that transform communities and encourage a strong sense of civic pride. This year, 37 properties were honored with awards and 10 properties earned honorable mentions.
Opened by John Dusek in 1892 as one of the most the most ornate theaters of its time, Thalia Hall's theater had been closed to the public since the 1960s. The theater was designated an official landmark in the 1980s.
In 2013, owners Bruce Finkelman and Craig Golden worked to restore the building at 1807 S. Allport St. into a theater and mixed-use development. The re-opened venue hosted its first show in May 2014.
Today the building houses Thalia Hall's namesake theater; Dusek's Board and Beer restaurant; Punch House, a basement bar; Modern Cooperative, a reclaimed furniture and vintage store; and Belli's Juicebar.
The Good Neighbor Awards will be formally presented at a ceremony held from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Montgomery Club, 500 W. Superior St. on the Near North Side.
Tickets to the award ceremony, which include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, are for sale online for $79.
For more than two decades, the Chicago Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Awards have recognized the best in urban revitalization, residential design and community development in the city. Winners are selected based on quality construction, service to a special population, care to complement the surrounding neighborhood, market value and architectural significance, according to the group.
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