Tower Theatre

LouisRugani on October 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm

Reopening the Tower Theater could ignite the redevelopment of North 27th Street in Milwaukee, but the cost of the project makes it a tough play.

The SOHI District, which represents the area south of Highland Avenue, wants to attract a theater troupe to use the space. But the building has been vacant for more than a decade and will need dramatic improvements before it can be used for rehearsals or other events, said Keith Stanley, SOHI District manager.

“I think the cost is the main issue,” he said, adding, “It could be something that turns the corner for the district.”

The SOHI District is trying to bring new development to 27th Street between Highland and St. Paul avenues through streetscape improvements, police cameras and efforts to attract businesses.

Establishing arts communities is a proven way to bring companies to an area, Stanley said, and there’s room for production space and offices in the building.

“We’ve seen places throughout the country â€" that are in the same position we are in â€" use art as a way to promote commercial revitalization,” he said.

A little more than 10 years ago, Milwaukee County bought the Tower Theater with a cluster of buildings that includes two towers now used for county offices, said Jack Takerian, county director of facility management. The county doesn’t use the space, he said.

“There have been some theater companies that have contacted us over the years, interested in the space,” he said. “But nothing has developed.”

Tower’s previous owner, Family Hospital, ripped out many of the seats to make room for a cafeteria and erected walls for offices, Takerian said. The seats must be replaced and the walls removed before it’s a theater again, he said.

“Their thought process,” he said, “was the theater was an open space for them to do a variety of different things.”

The county never planned to use the space as a theater, Takerian said, but welcomes the SOHI District’s help in trying to find a group to use the space.

“That partnership with SOHI â€" Keith and his group â€" is essential to turning that development around,” he said.

Stanley said his group is just starting to hunt for a theater troupe and doesn’t expect the project to turn over quickly.

“It’s a unique building,” he said. “I would hate to lose it, but you never know how things are going to pan out.”

KenRoe on May 8, 2005 at 7:44 am

The Tower Theatre opened on 1st May 1926. It was equipped with a Barton 3Manual/10Rank theatre pipe organ that was opened by Bernard Cowham.