A source in the community says the owner is putting “shops on the first floor, banquet facilities on the second floor, and a theater on the third floor.” Not exactly sure if that’s going to be fit into the existing main floor/balcony configuration or if new floors will be built in the building’s shell.
There were lights on in the lobby Saturday night, 3/31. Much of the ornamentation in the lobby is still intact. There appears to be some demo work going on, at least to remove damaged sections of plaster and/or non-original sheetrock walls; it didn’t appear that any of the ornamental plasterwork was being removed.
The retail floor occupies both the lobby and auditorium areas of the building. The projection booths are still visible on the back wall of the auditorium.
The Huntridge first went dark in 1977. On July 30, 2004, following a heavy metal concert by Dimmu Borgir, Bleeding Through and G-d Forbid, current owner Eli Mizrachi shuttered the theater in preparation for a $1.7 million renovation that would have added a balony, new stage, new dressing rooms, restaurants, three bars, VIP rooms, gaming, and retail space, scheduled to be completed in early 2006. Rising costs – the most recent estimate for the renovations is $4 million – resulted in numerous delays to the start of work, and as of January, 2006, Mizrachi has postponed the renovations and the Huntridge’s reopening indefinitely. The box office still sports advertisements for a July 9, 2004 concert by the Beastie Boys.
There’s still no word on the Silent Film Society of Chicago’s own site, but the West End Jazz Band lists the Portage’s opening night this Friday, 2/3/06, on their events page.
The entire movie “American Buffalo” was shot in a vacant storefront in the adjacent Fanning Block, which was demolished at the same time as the Leroy, and in the Times Square Restaurant (renamed Riverside Diner for the film) across the street.
Reported in today’s New York Times, the owner of the property, Boymelgreen Developers, have propsed a 19-story condominium tower for the site. The landmarked lobby and grand foyer would be preserved behind a 45,000-pound, 50' high, 100' wide glass curtain wall on the building’s Northern Boulevard frontage and would house restaurants and retail shops. An exhibit in the building would display artifacts salvaged from the theater.
NYC Department of Buildings issued a work permit on 7/25/03 for “Repair and Upgrade of Existing Theater where shown on plans – No change in Use, Egress, or Occupancy.”
An electrical contractor is in the theater this very moment, and a truck from a supplier of Dolby digital equipment is parked in front.
The Plaza is closed for renovation; when it reopens it will feature five modern theaters. The last films to play there apparently were The Matrix Revolutions, Elf, and The Cat in the Hat.
A source in the community says the owner is putting “shops on the first floor, banquet facilities on the second floor, and a theater on the third floor.” Not exactly sure if that’s going to be fit into the existing main floor/balcony configuration or if new floors will be built in the building’s shell.
There were lights on in the lobby Saturday night, 3/31. Much of the ornamentation in the lobby is still intact. There appears to be some demo work going on, at least to remove damaged sections of plaster and/or non-original sheetrock walls; it didn’t appear that any of the ornamental plasterwork was being removed.
SFSC’s silent film festival was postponed, due to delays in the permitting process. Guess we’ll have to keep waiting…
The retail floor occupies both the lobby and auditorium areas of the building. The projection booths are still visible on the back wall of the auditorium.
The Huntridge first went dark in 1977. On July 30, 2004, following a heavy metal concert by Dimmu Borgir, Bleeding Through and G-d Forbid, current owner Eli Mizrachi shuttered the theater in preparation for a $1.7 million renovation that would have added a balony, new stage, new dressing rooms, restaurants, three bars, VIP rooms, gaming, and retail space, scheduled to be completed in early 2006. Rising costs – the most recent estimate for the renovations is $4 million – resulted in numerous delays to the start of work, and as of January, 2006, Mizrachi has postponed the renovations and the Huntridge’s reopening indefinitely. The box office still sports advertisements for a July 9, 2004 concert by the Beastie Boys.
There’s still no word on the Silent Film Society of Chicago’s own site, but the West End Jazz Band lists the Portage’s opening night this Friday, 2/3/06, on their events page.
Here is a rendering of the proposed office building: View link
Article in the 12/19/05 Daily News: View link
Is the wood ticket booth original to the Davis/Pershing, or was it moved from somewhere else?
It was a 4-plex at the end. Linclon Mall announced today that Cinemaworld will operate a new 16-plex, scheduled to open 10/1/05.
The entire movie “American Buffalo” was shot in a vacant storefront in the adjacent Fanning Block, which was demolished at the same time as the Leroy, and in the Times Square Restaurant (renamed Riverside Diner for the film) across the street.
The kittens are safe :)
Work permits are posted on the door for removal of non-loadbearing partitions, removal of plaster ceiling, and leveling of floor slab.
The Community Board’s decision is not binding on the developer. No legal action against the CB is necessary.
Reported in today’s New York Times, the owner of the property, Boymelgreen Developers, have propsed a 19-story condominium tower for the site. The landmarked lobby and grand foyer would be preserved behind a 45,000-pound, 50' high, 100' wide glass curtain wall on the building’s Northern Boulevard frontage and would house restaurants and retail shops. An exhibit in the building would display artifacts salvaged from the theater.
NYC Department of Buildings issued a work permit on 7/25/03 for “Repair and Upgrade of Existing Theater where shown on plans – No change in Use, Egress, or Occupancy.”
An electrical contractor is in the theater this very moment, and a truck from a supplier of Dolby digital equipment is parked in front.
The Rock Community Church is currently renovating the building. It looks like the Elmwood will be, pardon the pun, “saved.”
The Plaza is closed for renovation; when it reopens it will feature five modern theaters. The last films to play there apparently were The Matrix Revolutions, Elf, and The Cat in the Hat.