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Congress Theater Renovation Includes New Owner, New Inn, Affordable Units

By Darryl Holliday | January 13, 2015 9:20am
 The 90-year-old Congress Theater, at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., hopes "to re-establish its reputation as one of the finest music venues in the nation," 1st Ward Ald. Joe Moreno said.
The 90-year-old Congress Theater, at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., hopes "to re-establish its reputation as one of the finest music venues in the nation," 1st Ward Ald. Joe Moreno said.
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DNAInfo/Victoria Johnson

LOGAN SQUARE — After years of turmoil, plans for the renovation of the Congress Theater are officially set, including the construction of a small inn and affordable housing units, according to Ald. Joe Moreno (1st).

Tuesday’s announcement is the culmination of several years of uncertainty and citations at the nearly 90-year-old Logan Square theater. The goal of the rehab is to restore the theater to its previous glory.

“This long-overdue rehabilitation project will not only renovate the theater’s historic lobby and auditorium, it will also include the improvement of the ground floor commercial spaces and the modernization of the above-grade residential units into a small inn and residences,” Moreno said via a news release Tuesday morning.

 The uppermost tip of the 88-year-old building was spray-painted blue and gray with the letters BBK KYM.
The uppermost tip of the 88-year-old building was spray-painted blue and gray with the letters BBK KYM.
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Joe Wisniewski

New Congress leadership comes under a familiar name in the exclusive world of Chicago classic theater renovation: Michael Moyer, a managing member at PalMet Ventures, known for its restoration of Downtown’s Cadillac Palace Theater at a cost of $20 million.

The upcoming Congress residences will be affordable housing units designated under the city’s Affordable Housing Ordinance, a request Moreno pushed New Congress LLC to accomplish throughout the lengthy planning process, he said.

“I am very excited about the future of the new Congress Theater. When completed, the new Congress Theater will be a world-class entertainment and commercial venue that our community will be very proud of,” Moreno said. “Just as important, this new theater owner, Mr. Moyer, will be a responsive and responsible owner and a true community partner."

Moyer will apply his expertise to the Congress "to re-establish its reputation as one of the finest music venues in the nation,” Moreno said. “The renovation will draw on the diverse history and culture of the neighborhood and the innate character of the architecture.”

There’s no doubt the classic theater has taken a beating in recent years — dubbed everything from derelict to dangerous.

Graffiti sprayed 40 feet up on the building's triangular pediment in August was just the tip of the iceberg of the troubles, which included the loss of its liquor license in 2013 and a New Year's Eve rape near the theater in 2011.

The theater also made news when the Electronic Dance Music genre was banned in its entirety for all current and future owners. According to sources close to the case, that ban will remain in effect under Moyer’s ownership.

Two final legal issues at the theater — one lawsuit with React Presents and another Jam Productions — recently were resolved, according to current owner Eddie Carranza, who said he expects a sale to Moyer to conclude in the coming months.

According to Moreno, Moyer will bring together an award-winning team, including Woodhouse Tinucci Architects as the project’s architect, W.E. O’Neil Construction as general contractor and MacRostie Historic Advisors.  

Moreno and New Congress LLC will host an open house for the community to tour the Congress Theater on Jan. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Refreshments and light snacks will be served.

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