A performing arts theatre is not a “destination” facility in this day and age. People are lambasting the benefit of Cruise Nights because it’s a one day event. I can’t imagine the theatre operating on anything but the weekend, either.
This is a destination for senior citizens and live theatre fans who don’t know about Drury Lane just a few miles away.
Also, a renovated Yorktown in conjunction with the convention center is going to bring in vastly more money than performance theatre.
If my taxes are invested in economic growth, then great. The DuPage Theatre can barely justify breaking even. You’re comparing apples and oranges. And I think you’re having a problem with the caps lock.
Ms. Lippig needs to back away from the Kool Aid. It sounds like Trustee Sebby made it perfectly clear that the matter is closed. He called a meeting to give her an opportunity to have some say regarding what ends up at the site once demolition takes place. She thought it was a chance to talk about another grand fantasy that does nothing to resolve the financial issues. According to the article, Sebby says the “Friends” cooked their goose during the Board meeting by lashing out at individuals.
Time is running out. Will the Friends of the DuPage come back to earth and accept a compromise? That’s about the only hope they have, barring a bailout from Springfield.
You have an opportunity at compromise you and your group would prefer to flush down the toilet.
If you begin to accept reality and focus your energy on building a unique, outdoor facility on the site of the current library, you will be pleasantly surprised by how much political currency you have to spend. Instead, you’re screaming for the projectionist to show the movie one more time while the ushers sweep the aisles.
Make lemonade out of lemons while you still have time.
Right now your political credit card is maxed out and the Village Council is going to start collecting interest on Thursday.
Instead of clinging to this fantasy – if you’re really all about “culture” and “the arts”, then you should be ready to present an alternative site in order to have a fine arts presence in Lombard.
I’ve given one alternative more than the Friends of the DuPage. What’s your contingency? Do you have one? When the wrecking ball comes down, are you going to move on to another town, or stay and CREATE (not just build) something spectacular?
>>>>We will become the laughing stock of northern Illinois!
Spare me. The lack of creative thinking by the “Friends of the Dupe” doesn’t bode well for a building designed for creativity.
I offered a great alternative that would create a cultural oasis in Lombard and get us a new library while we’re at it. I’ll repeat it:
Raise the Dupe.
Build a new library on that site.
Raise the old library
Build a REAL Spanish patio/outdoor theatre at the
current library site, where patrons can REALLY enjoy
the arts under the stars, and give Lombard a first-
class facility for the arts.
Why is this not an agreeable alternative? We’ve got a beautiful park setting with Lilacia as a backdrop. Be a little creative! That’s how good towns become great. The DuPage is past. Let it go. Do something better.
They simply know the votes are not there. There is a distinct difference in the actions of people when they are confronted in person on an issue, and when they can punch a vote privately in a referendum. Any referendum to save the Dupe would be roundly and soundly defeated and they know it.
Even a non-binding referendum would give the Friends an enormous amount of momentum behind their efforts at the state level, so I’m not sure why they’re not clamoring for ANY kind of vote.
The writing is on the wall. If the theatre were supportable, it would not have come to this in the first place.
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.
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.
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.
Melders – thank you for that note of genius. I’m going to park a beat-up car up on blocks in front of your house and leave it there for a few years.
And no, the theatre is not structurally sound, hence the high price of renovation.
A renovated old theatre is great when people who can make money on it are willing to put their investment dollars in it. One would think some sort of Chicago-based foundation for the Arts would be leading the way on this, raising money to protect the DuPage Theatre since it’s so indispensible according to everyone. No one who would have a vested interest in this project wants to do it except for the developers who can turn a quick profit on the development and leave us holding the bag in a few years when they suddenly stop putting $100,000 into the kitty.
Here’s a brilliant idea. Have a little vision. Why does everyone insist on rehashing what Lombard WAS? Wow, I really long for the Hammerschmitt silos. Let’s bring ‘em back because they were so UNIQUE to the Western Suburbs.
Try this on for size – if it’s really about “culture”, let’s compromise:
Tear down the library, tear down the Dupe. Build a centerpiece, outdoor classical theatre on the site of the current library, where there will be no conflict with Lilacia. Make deals with local theatre troupes – and maybe even Drury Lane – to produce Shakespeare in the Park, classical Greek and Roman tragedies and comedies, and have classical music concerts. Free during the day to expose children to the arts, paid at night to draw lovers of the arts. Obviously there would be no winter peformances, but spring, summer, and fall would be operable.
Next step, build a new library with subterranean parking on the site of the Dupe. Add retail, condos, on the next door lot to generate tax revenue on prime property.
Everyone wins. If our civic leaders used a little imagination, everyone’s wants and desires could be satisfied.
test
A performing arts theatre is not a “destination” facility in this day and age. People are lambasting the benefit of Cruise Nights because it’s a one day event. I can’t imagine the theatre operating on anything but the weekend, either.
This is a destination for senior citizens and live theatre fans who don’t know about Drury Lane just a few miles away.
Robert R:
If Lombard is dying, how come my tax assessments have gone through the roof in the last three years?
BTW, if you actually knew our village, you’d know that we already have a 7-11 just steps from the Dupe.
DuPageDude
Also, a renovated Yorktown in conjunction with the convention center is going to bring in vastly more money than performance theatre.
If my taxes are invested in economic growth, then great. The DuPage Theatre can barely justify breaking even. You’re comparing apples and oranges. And I think you’re having a problem with the caps lock.
DuPageDude
At least the mall is something I’d be willing to patronize.
This place is like Freud’s jungle gym. I’ve never seen so many adults in one place who can’t accept reality.
I think the Village gov’t should definitely accept the grants, and THEN demolish the theatre.
Ms. Lippig needs to back away from the Kool Aid. It sounds like Trustee Sebby made it perfectly clear that the matter is closed. He called a meeting to give her an opportunity to have some say regarding what ends up at the site once demolition takes place. She thought it was a chance to talk about another grand fantasy that does nothing to resolve the financial issues. According to the article, Sebby says the “Friends” cooked their goose during the Board meeting by lashing out at individuals.
Time is running out. Will the Friends of the DuPage come back to earth and accept a compromise? That’s about the only hope they have, barring a bailout from Springfield.
Again, Deb Dynako – No plan B.
Exactly how committed to the arts are you?
You have an opportunity at compromise you and your group would prefer to flush down the toilet.
If you begin to accept reality and focus your energy on building a unique, outdoor facility on the site of the current library, you will be pleasantly surprised by how much political currency you have to spend. Instead, you’re screaming for the projectionist to show the movie one more time while the ushers sweep the aisles.
Make lemonade out of lemons while you still have time.
Challenger –
What was the outcome of the meeting?
Nice catch on the spelling.
Right now your political credit card is maxed out and the Village Council is going to start collecting interest on Thursday.
Instead of clinging to this fantasy – if you’re really all about “culture” and “the arts”, then you should be ready to present an alternative site in order to have a fine arts presence in Lombard.
I’ve given one alternative more than the Friends of the DuPage. What’s your contingency? Do you have one? When the wrecking ball comes down, are you going to move on to another town, or stay and CREATE (not just build) something spectacular?
>>>>We will become the laughing stock of northern Illinois!
Spare me. The lack of creative thinking by the “Friends of the Dupe” doesn’t bode well for a building designed for creativity.
I offered a great alternative that would create a cultural oasis in Lombard and get us a new library while we’re at it. I’ll repeat it:
current library site, where patrons can REALLY enjoy
the arts under the stars, and give Lombard a first-
class facility for the arts.
Why is this not an agreeable alternative? We’ve got a beautiful park setting with Lilacia as a backdrop. Be a little creative! That’s how good towns become great. The DuPage is past. Let it go. Do something better.
DuPage Dude –
They simply know the votes are not there. There is a distinct difference in the actions of people when they are confronted in person on an issue, and when they can punch a vote privately in a referendum. Any referendum to save the Dupe would be roundly and soundly defeated and they know it.
Even a non-binding referendum would give the Friends an enormous amount of momentum behind their efforts at the state level, so I’m not sure why they’re not clamoring for ANY kind of vote.
The writing is on the wall. If the theatre were supportable, it would not have come to this in the first place.
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.
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.
Melders – thank you for that note of genius. I’m going to park a beat-up car up on blocks in front of your house and leave it there for a few years.
And no, the theatre is not structurally sound, hence the high price of renovation.
A renovated old theatre is great when people who can make money on it are willing to put their investment dollars in it. One would think some sort of Chicago-based foundation for the Arts would be leading the way on this, raising money to protect the DuPage Theatre since it’s so indispensible according to everyone. No one who would have a vested interest in this project wants to do it except for the developers who can turn a quick profit on the development and leave us holding the bag in a few years when they suddenly stop putting $100,000 into the kitty.
Come on – are you that naive?
Here’s a brilliant idea. Have a little vision. Why does everyone insist on rehashing what Lombard WAS? Wow, I really long for the Hammerschmitt silos. Let’s bring ‘em back because they were so UNIQUE to the Western Suburbs.
Try this on for size – if it’s really about “culture”, let’s compromise:
Tear down the library, tear down the Dupe. Build a centerpiece, outdoor classical theatre on the site of the current library, where there will be no conflict with Lilacia. Make deals with local theatre troupes – and maybe even Drury Lane – to produce Shakespeare in the Park, classical Greek and Roman tragedies and comedies, and have classical music concerts. Free during the day to expose children to the arts, paid at night to draw lovers of the arts. Obviously there would be no winter peformances, but spring, summer, and fall would be operable.
Next step, build a new library with subterranean parking on the site of the Dupe. Add retail, condos, on the next door lot to generate tax revenue on prime property.
Everyone wins. If our civic leaders used a little imagination, everyone’s wants and desires could be satisfied.
A few bucks per citizen? You lost all credibility with one sentence.
Yes, thank God you live in Chicago.