Managing Editor
The city has begun organizing a battle plan to determine who is willing to help in a community effort to transform the Des Plaines Theater building into a local cultural center.
Mayor Tony Arredia met Monday with his secretary, Donna Catlett, who is also president of the Des Plaines Arts Council, and Karen Henrickson, the city's Public Relations director, to discuss a course of action. What resulted was a decision to work on identifying those people who would be willing to work on such a project and then possibly form a steering committee.
Arredia said that a goal is to gather as much information as he can about the possibility of creating a performing arts center out of the 78-year-old downtown building. Information gathered would then be distributed to aldermen who would possibly decide whether the city will become involved in such an undertaking, and if so, to what extent.
"The whole purpose is to see if there's interest in this before I go to City Council with a recommendation," said Arredia. "As far as I'm concerned, the city would not own the building. That's not what I will recommend. But, of course, that could change. Now, I want to see who is interested. This is more complicated that just a yes or a no."
Arredia last week hosted a public information meeting in City Hall to discuss the Theater building/cultural arts center possibility. Approximately 75 people attended the gathering with most expressing support. Arredia now wants to determine who from those in attendance at last week's meeting are willing to work for a possible arts center.
One idea suggested is that the city purchase the building and fund its restoration to its 1920's appearance. Such an undertaking could cost between $4 million and $6 million. Supporters of this plan say that the Theater building could play a major role in the revitalization of the downtown Des Plaines. In addition, they claim that a restored Theater could attract hundreds of thousands of people annually who are interested in seeing live performances of big name as well as more local entertainment at affordable prices. The City of Waukegan is undergoing such a project which leaders there believe will revitalize its downtown area.
"I will go to the City Council," said Arredia. "I will try to provide as much information to the aldermen as I can on this. I want to put a packet together for them to say either yes or no. A big part of this is whether it will be successful or not. We don't want a red herring."