DuPage Theater
109 S. Main Street,
Lombard,
IL
60148
109 S. Main Street,
Lombard,
IL
60148
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,051 - 1,075 of 1,253 comments
Challenger, many organizations/groups have “committed” to using the DuPage Theatre once it reopens. We have a whole list of them. It’s more like, “We’re here, so build it.”
DuPage dude states “The touring cast of "Rent” will not do a couple numbers in your den."
Has the touring cast of “Rent” committed to coming to the Dupe or is this more of a “Build it and they will come” comment.
Fiscal, what good would it do to tear it down now? Why don’t you support a referendum to demolish the theater, since that would take tax dollars too. Or better yet, but the site up for sale and let a private business tear it down, since the anti-theater supports don’t want to spend the city’s money.
Challenger, I think that that is what worries you. You are afraid that once restoration starts, the citizens of the city will want it finished, and the city will pay some of the costs. Nothing says the city has to finish, but once the theater gets close to finished, citizens won’t want to see it destroyed. Work must take place in order for more money to come in.
I really like the idea of a petition drive of Lombard residents. I wonder why no one on the Friends has come up it. Especially circulating petitions in the districts where their representatives have spoken so outwardly about no support in their districts. Didn’t one of the trustees say that he personally supported the restoration, but found no support for it in his district? I bet if the Friends got out there and walked door to door to get signatures from people in his district, he would have to eat his words.
The referendum failed because the question was misleading. It actually had three questions wrapped into one. It confused a lot of people in Lombard, and some ended up signing it thinking it was in support of the theater. The referendum was stopped for several reasons. All valid legal ones.
“The DuPage Theatre and Cultural Arts Centre” will contain a 500 seat auditorium to be rented out for such occasions as symphonies, concerts, vocal groups, acting groups, dance recitals, business conferences, weddings, dances, art openings, poetry slams and just about any other “cultural” or “social” event one could possibly imagine. We as a society are beginning to spend far too much time in front of our computers and not enough time with other human beings. This theater will give Lombardians a chance, a reason, to do just that. Only then will the wounds of this bitter war begin to heal. These wounds will never heal if the theater is torn down. It will cause a rift in this town that I am afraid will rip it to its core.
Cultural center does not equal movie theatre! You cannot put your child’s ballet recital, or your sons drama club in your living room. The touring cast of “Rent” will not do a couple numbers in your den.
How’s that for no “wistful nosatlgia about starry nights”?
Someone needs to demonstrate how saving the Dupe will be fiscally viable. We have a joke for a high school, a joke for a library, and a joke for a police department. Tell me again why we’re focused on the DuPage Theatre.
Show me the reason why people will attend this theatre when the facts show that the trend has moved decidedly away from movie theatres to home theatres. Instead of moving forward and employing a little ingenuity, we’re desperately clinging to a past that went to its shallow grave ten years ago.
If cinemas can’t stay solvent, how will a Lombard playhouse?
Explain this without all the wistful nostalgia about starry nights and Spanish patios and I’ll change my mind.
Referendum
Referendum
Referendum
What are you people afraid of? We have enough special interest groups throwing their weight around this “democracy”, deciding where my tax dollars go. Put it to a vote. Otherwise, tear it down NOW.
So why has there been no petition drive to see how many Lombardians actually do support the project?
Dave –
Thanks for the mature response. I really appreciate your demonstration of why those who are supporting the Dupe have a problem dealing with reality.
Let the adults in Lombard make the decision. Oh wait – that would be facilitated with a REFERENDUM, which is fair and democratic, but only when it ensures a victory for the Dupe supporters.
By the way, if we were allowed to move forward with the project, the falling bricks would be nicely restored to their original purpose, and the fence would be permanently removed…think about it.
It would be interesting to “sit down and discuss it over a tall glass of lemonade.” Unfortunately, I don’t know who you are! :) If you think the money invested in the theatre was wasted, that’s only because of the demolition proclamation currently on the table. Our trustees chose to “waste” the money—-not the Friends. Shouldn’t they be held accountable to the “taxpayers?” Why did they “waste” that money if demolition was what was intended? I would be upset with them, if I were you, not with the Friends who want the investment SAVED and put to good use!
How was that $100,000 spent? Now that the place has been scheduled for demolition that $100,000 was wasted.
We were told $500,000 so that’s what I will believe. Whether or not that figure is accurate, we have still wasted money. Any problems you have with that Trustee is between you two and not me.
I said it before and will say it again..I support restoration if it is done with private financial support. If that can’t be done save what you can.
Regarding my claims of falling brick check out the photos at www.dupagetheatre.com
Listen Deb, We both made our points and are getting nowhere. Perhaps, some day, we can sit down and discuss it over a tall glass of lemonade. On me :)
The village offered $1 million in TIF dollars and only released $100,000. The “village” has not spent $500,000 over the last 6 years. That’s the trustee’s claim which he cannot backup with real data…which I asked him to please do. Talk about ducking the “tough questions,” this is the “trustee” who happens to be the one to ask for the demolition based on falsehoods he purpetuates.
dupagedude, I live 2 miles away, not that it’s important, but I park next to it at the Metra station so I see it up close every day…can you say the same? Everyday for the last 5 years! If it’s in such great shape why did the Village put a safety fence around it? Because the falling bricks became a hazard!
Regarding the other website, perhaps before you pass judgment you should read who I am responding too. There have been 2 to 4 friends that attack me every day for speaking out about this project. Funny thing is I get lots of email of support from many people who feel the same way as me. They have called me names too, but I guess that’s OK with you then.
The Village throwing up roadblocks??? Didn’t the Village offer $1 million fro restoration? Does that sound like a roadblock? Plus the Village has already spent $500,000 over the last 6 years, money we can not recoup.
Challenger, I’m sorry you think the Friends “don’t like you.” Not true. You exhibit exactly the type of behavior that reveals what our group has been up against—-misinformed, narrow-minded and mean-spirited people who favor making their nasty comments from the cover of anonymity. Challenger, your questions have been answered. You’re just trying to make mountains out of molehills.
And to hdtv267, I don’t want this page of this site to be of fond memories of the theatre. I want this page to exhibit that old theatres still have a place in our “modern” society and can be an important part to town revitalization projects across the country. I want this page to showcase the DuPage Theatre as a success story along those lines, and to inspire others to save the theatres that are important to them. Otherwise, this site simply becomes a “graveyard” to memories…When the theatre is restored, please come to Lombard to really appreciate the grandeur of the DuPage!
Challenger, do you realy think that if the resto was 75% and they money was to run out, another buyer would not JUMP at the chance to com in and finish the project? I think the reason it has been so difficult for the Friends is that the Village, by constantly throwing up roadblocks, is saying they are not in favor of the project.
By the way, I went to the anti-theatre web site, and you bash anyone who does not sgree with you-you call them idiots, frauds and a bevy of other names. If that does not constitute less then friendly to you, I’m sure glad I’m not living next to you! By the way, how close do YOU live to the theatre?
DuPagedude, I am NOT less than friendly or against the theatre all together, read my previous posts. I am a taxpayer in this town (Lombard) and all I am doing is asking some hard questions. They are so hard that the friends of the theatre don’t like me. Does that mean I should stop asking these questions? NO, and I will continue to ask them.
All I have done is question their financing and fundraising. IF every single thing goes their way then they can pull this thing off, but there are hundreds of things they need to go there way. WE all know that their chances are slim to none that everything will go their way.
Melders when I said “if restoration fails, the city is stuck paying” what I meant to say is that if (hypothetically) restoration was to begin, and let’s say they get 75% done and the funding comes up short, who finances the rest? The Village would, because it would be a public relations nightmare not to. Certainly demolition would not be an option at that point.
This theatre has sat vacant for 6 years and most people are tired of looking at it. Bricks are falling off as we speak, and there is no end in sight. At some point when is enough is enough.
Dear HDTV: The “Hissing” that you refer to is what keeps the Cinema Treasure site alive! I love to read the comments written with such passion shared by all about theatre restoration! Some theatres need to go away…others need to stay…still others need to engage in “adaptive reuse.” You can tell that the DuPage is one theatre generates enough enthusiasm for the hundreds of other ones that still sit neglected. One thing is for sure: The DuPage will not be torn down anytime soon. I can guarantee it.
Challenger, give up on that $1200 thing. It is clear to me that there are two different groups that have tried and you seem stuck on one of these groups. How do you know how much money they have? Do you run the bank the money is in? Also, why do you keep saying that if restoration fails, the city is stuck paying? If restoration fails, the city can go ahead and demolish this theater. They would have no reason to finish restoration. Also, while I agree promised money is no certainty, it is better than nothing. No one is going to donate money to this project with the demolishion order from the council.
Let me ask a few questions. If this is a restoration website, why do people (Deb Dynako, etc.) engage this Challenger person? He is less than friendly, and ovbiously against the theater all together.
My other question is have the Friends tried to do a petition drive to get Lombard residents (only) to give to the Board?
Challenger, your thirst is for something beyond what a glass of lemonade can quench. If the plan was allowed to proceed today, it would be fully funded. The reason the plan was “changed twice” is that it was presented and the Village asked for changes. Those changes actually made the plan agreeable to the Village which acknowledged the numbers added up (therefore making it “in balance” or “fully funded.”) No propaganda here. The numbers are in the public record. You can’t dispute any of them.
The Save America’s Treasures grant is in the bank. That’s $300,000, again NOT $1200. (Oh, by the way Challenger, do you think it’s easy to get federal grant money? It’s a lot of hard work and dedicated people—-Lombard citizens—-brought it to town for all our benefit, and only because of the theatre!) The Illinois First money is not a dead issue—-it’s been promised by the state. All the village needs to do is show support for the project. Once they do that, all sorts of money will become available—-including all the pledges. Pledges are promises people make. No one forced them to pledge, they wanted to—-and still want to. They just need the green light.
Thanks for acknowledging through your silence that you are NOT more qualified than Daniel P. Coffey at ascertaining the viability of restoring the DuPage Theatre.
You’re a funny guy, though. That glass of lemonade surely made an impression on you. Maybe if you helped to creatively find ways to save the theatre instead of making up reasons to demolish, you would find that it is much more pleasant making lemonade than being a lemon.
Deb, like you said we will agree to disagree.
My only argument is that this plan was ‘fully funded’ six years ago, then 5 years , then 4,3,2 years ago…your current plan was altered twice this year. I, for one, am not buying it. There are too many “if’s” as paul said. The Illinois first money is questionable at best, plus the rest of money is NOT guaranteed. My fear is that restoration will begin, funding will fall short, and we (taxpayers) will be left footing the bill.
For the rest of the people on this site…I am NOT an anti-preservationist (is that a word?). If private development stepped in, or somebody (or some company) cut a check for $8 million, then get me a broom, or a hammer, or whatever, and I would be happy to help.
As for her conspiracy theory of propaganda let the record show that I purchased a lemonade from their lemonade stand therefore I donated a portion of the $1200 in the bank. If my goal was to tear it down, why would I make a donation towards saving it?
Challenger,
Who cares WHY people came to see the Ides of March. The Ides put on a show to BENEFIT the theatre. That’s why they were in town. Of course, people liked the band, but I’m sure many people also liked knowing the proceeds were going to help save the DuPage Theatre, in particular, the marquee. I will again ask the question: What makes you more qualified than Daniel P. Coffey to ascertain the ability to restore the theatre? Have you done restoration work? Have you personally performed tests on the building? Have you had the confidence of the city of Chicago to restore all the theatres in their North Loop Theatre District? I suspect the answer is NO.
Propaganda? Yes. No Friend is asking for the taxpayers, or the park district, to foot the bill for this project. You like to spread the propaganda of fear amongst residents that this will “cost too much.” You have no proof of that either. You would just like to see the building gone. Again, I’m not sure why you bother coming here when preservation is the last thing on your mind.
Paul, I like your logic, and with regards to the DuPage Theatre, all the “IFs” can be reconciled in a positive manner. No can of worms here, it’s just that if we could get past the nastiness some choose to spew, then we could get to the real issue saving this particular theatre in a meaningful way. That’s the conversation I’m looking forward to.
Well, I really think I opened up a whole ‘nuther can-o-worms here! It is funny how I and some others have mentioned the petty bickering that has gone on the DuPage’s page here. Yet here we see more of it.
As I said above, I’ve never been to the DuPage. So I can remain neutral on the issue. But the reason I mentioned all of the “ifs” above is because there have been many instances where millions have been spent, there are huge cost-overruns, a building gets restored (this is not just limited to theatres), and soon falls into financial distress for many reasons. And it ends up being a white elephant.
I wouldn’t want to see the DuPage demolished either, but the “ifs” I preseneted above are the tough questions which must be asked before taking on such a task, no matter what the size of the property is being restored. And if I lived in Lombard, I certainly wouldn’t mind public/private or public money being used IF the “ifs” are met.
I think LIFE’S TOO SHORT said it best on his December 4, 2004 post above. LIFE’S TOO SHORT, may I quote you here? “But you need a solid plan from start to finish…how to fund the project, intelligent management plan after the job is done. These places don’t thrive nowadays without a lot of effort. If proper reuse does not materialize, these buildings decay.”