The theater should be a landmark!

This is another comment from the petition:

"It's a neighborhood institution. It
should be granted landmark status and
restored to it's original glory. It's a
link to our storied and historic past
and should be considered as such."

--Kristopher from S. Normal

K- I could't agree more! Many residents already believed that
the Ramova had landmark status. We are currently working on the
submission paperwork to the Landmarks Commission to request landmark
status for the Ramova. Hopefully we'll have good news to share soon!
Landmark status would basically protect the marquee, terracotta on the
facade and the outside structure, plus it would give the building the
much deserved respect it needs and requires to save the integrity of the building.

Welcoming LPCI to the fight

We're happy to report that the influential Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois has expressed their support of STR this week.

We had a dicsussion with Lisa DiChiera, Director of Advocacy of the LPCI (Landmarks Preservation Council Inc.) on Thursday 10/20/2005

We called the LPCI to discuss starting the process of landmarking the Ramova. Basically, if the landmark designation is given to the Ramova, the face (marquee and terracotta front) would be protected under the landmark designation. Unfortunatley, the interior of the theater is not protected by this designation. Since both the Alderman and John Molloy have stated that the marquee may be taken down and the terracotta still needs to be evaluated to see if it’s viable, we feel that this is a necessary move on our organizations part in the attempt to Save The Ramova!

Lisa suggests that we write a letter to Alderman Balcer making it clear that his continued endorsement is required along with the endorsement from his constituents (our petitions) to push landmark status. Lisa also suggests that we try to engage some local organizations for support and also try to find the local CDC(community development corporation) or a local business organization that takes in development.

Lastly, we have also found out that the Ramova was designated as an Orange rating in the City’s architectural survey (conducted from 1985-1995 and published in 1996, the City-sponsored Chicago Hitoric Resources Survey(CHRS) identified more that 17,000 properties in all 50 wards considered to have potential architectural and historical importance. This information is available at City libraries and the Chicago Landmarks website:http://egov.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks/CHRS.html is the second highest rating of architectural significance, red is first for buildings like Wrigley Building or Tribune Tower. Orange rated buildings not only are often landmarked, but for those not landmarked, if someone applies for a demo permit on an orange rated building, there is a 90 day delay so the public can express concern. So hopefully for the Ramova we will not get to that point.

Lisa suggests that we write a letter to Alderman Balcer making it clear that his continued endorsement is required along with the endorsement from his constituents (our petitions) to push landmark status. Lisa also suggests that we try to engage some local organizations for support and also try to find the local CDC(community development corporation) or a local business organization that takes in development.


There are significant benefits available to the developer such as a 20% tax rehab credit(according to Lisa), tax increment financing, façade rebate program, special property tax assessment classification for landmarks called the Class “L” which reduces the tax assessment level for locally designated landmark commercial and industrial property over a twelve year period, provided the owner invests at least half of the building’s value in an approved rehabilitation program.

There is also a grant called the Heritage Grant Fund that would help subsidize an independent study, by a qualified architect or engineer of the Ramova. The Alderman or City DPD would currently have to apply for this grant (this is an area we are still not clear on, so let’s not get into too many details about the hows, but just that this is one possible grant that is ava. to qualified bldgs).

Please post any comments or questions re: the landmark status of the Ramova. Do you feel this is the right path for us to take?

STR Petition Comments, Part 3

More petition comments....


I have a 5 month old daughter and I
want her to experience the things that
I did growing up. Be it a nice walk
down the block, a stroll on the lake or
a movie at the local venue.

Preserve one of the landmarks that was
the foundation of what made Bridgeport
a true community. The building that
houses this theatre may have faded, but
the memories still live on.
- Wayne, S. Normal Ave.

Why should the
North Side get the sister theater and
Bridgeport not have anything reminding
us of our past. My grandparents met for
shows every weekend at the Ramova over
50 years ago...it would be nice to take
my children there.
Lisa, S. Quinn St.

I think it would be nice to have a
place to take the family on the weekend
that would be close to home
Tina, W. 44th St.

I went there as a kid, i thought it was
beautiful then (I remember wondering
about the the balconies and the people
that lived behind the doors) It would
be great if it was renovated. I wound
surely bring my grandchildren.

Ellen, S. Lowe Ave.

Thanks Ellen - I always wondered who or what was behind those doors too!

-Maureen

Viva La Ramova!

Another fun comment from the STR petition:


The Ramova Theatre is a major &
important landmark in not only the
neighborhood of Bridgeport's, but
Chicago's history, as well. For years
plenty of people used it as an
entertainment venue that wasn't only
beautiful architecturally, but
affordable & readily accessible. It,
with much loving care & attention to
detail can withstand the test of time.
It has the potential to outshine it's
past by bringing what so many theatres
& rehabbed buildings lack to the city,
which is original history to what was
and will be soon enough a thriving
cultural neighborhood, long overlooked.
In my heart I have the Ramova for it's
double & even triple features, for the
dollar shows on Saturday afternoons,
for my Mom and I marvelling at the
romance of the interior design, the
small balconies, red velvet,
spanish-moorish enhancements & arches.
We would walk home down a cold, dark &
snowy Halsted street in the 70's
instead of waiting for the bus &
enjoyed everything about the
experience. The Ramova was what warmed
you. As kids, though our feet would
stick to the floor & the cats on patrol
would meow back to us, there would be
nothing to compare to the Ramova.
Everyone who has been inside or outside
the building falls in love with it.
Please don't take any part of it down.
So many old movie houses have been
removed from Chicago's landscape. The
Brighton was one that sadly is no more.
I was raised listening to my mother,
father & both of my grandfathers speak
of so many theatres, churches, & other
buildings that served as mainstay
social venues that enriched many lives,
since before the depression. Chicago
needs to hang onto as much of its
ORIGINAL soul as possible. That is the
real core of this city... its real main
attraction. Its soul is why the
tourists come. The architecture is
just a shell, but these great buildings
have soul that once taken away, just
becomes another strip mall. More
buildings of the Ramova's stature and
beloved history need to remain
preserved & protected as landmarks.
Let's use OUR CHARMS. Valuable & vital
to Chicago history, this little
building's presence will prove to serve
as a contributor to the community, its
growth, and to the city, a true
renaissance to shine as an example for
all urban areas & planning. Viva La
Ramova!

Denise from S. Bonfield

Thanks Denise! Viva La Ramova! -Maureen

35th/Halsted Development

"I drive by this theater often when out
and about in the neighborhood. A huge
condo project already is going in at
35th and Halsted. Old buildings in
Bridgeport are being torn down, but do
we have to tear down the architectural
gems as well? This neighborhood does
not need to look like Lakeview."

-Anne, 33rd and Halsted

Anne:

Nor does it need to look like Schaumburg. Here is a good place to talk about that 35th/Halsted project. What have people heard about it?

-Rob

STR Petition Comments, Part 2

More petition Comments...

[I want to save the theatre] cuz the ramova is the bomb diggity,and
i used to see movies there as a kid.

- Patrick on W. 43rd St.

Right on Patrick! LOL -Maureen

the building is rich in culture and a
vital part of our history. this could
be the anchor of 35th and halsted. the
rewards can bring the community
together economically and socially. by
saving the ramova, we can define
bridgeport's future

- Laura, S. Lowe Ave.

Absolutely true - and if we don't define the neighborhood's future, who will? People from the suburbs? People with sweet deals, political connections and inside information? -Rob

I have never had the pleasure of
viewing the inside of the theatre, but
I firmly believe that monuments and
landmarks such as this one should be
preserved. In the ten years that I have
lived in Chicago I have seen the fabric
of the architectural landscape torn and
shredded. For what? For whom? I
love the Ramova Grill. I hope that
isn't being threatened as well

- Eric, N. Hoyne

You are not alone. It is strange that nobody from the grill business has spoken up about their namesake next door. Are they gonna let a northsider beat them to it? :) - Rob

The Ramova Theatre has been around for
many years...as a child, I spent almost
every weekend there. It's so sad to
see such a beautiful piece of "history"
being literally decayed. It seems like
no one cares. Bridgeport needs a
theatre & the theatre needs to be
brought back to life!

Karen, S. Union Ave.

Amen! Bridgeport sure does need a theatre! - M&R

STR Petition Comments, Part 1

I can speak for Maureen as to how touched she has been to read all the great comments we receive from your petition signatures. We both thank you for speaking up and helping out. We will post some of these (but treasure all of them) here.

-Rob

The Ramova is an important part of our
neighborhood history. The interior
architecture is irreplaceable. So much
of our neighborhood has been torn down
and replaced that the Ramova is one of
the few remaining pieces of history.
Please let us keep it.

- Joe, S. Lowe Ave.

It is history and let's have something
that we can share with our kids,
grandkids, etc. Old is great!

- Kathy, S. Parnell

It would be nice to have somewhere to
go in the neighborhood. There is
nothing to do but go to taverns. I
have fond memories of going to the show
and seeing some great movies.

-Annette, W. 35th Pl.

The Ramova is an important part of our
neighborhood history. The interior
architecture is irreplaceable. So much
of our neighborhood has been torn down
and replaced that the Ramova is one of
the few remaining pieces of history.
Please let us keep it.

-Joe, S. Lowe Ave.

Meeting with Alderman Balcer

Yesterday we sat down with Alderman James Balcer and his assistant Kelly. We presented an October 8 report containing 541 Save The Ramova petition signatures and discussed the theatre and the neighborhood for about twenty minutes.

We think he has the same sentimental attachment to the building that so many of us do. We heard him repeat that the Ramova "would have been torn down by now" were it not for his protection of the building.

As for the building's future plans, we got only this:

"No lofts, no condos, no townhomes"
"What can be saved, needs to be."
"It will not be knocked down."
"The marquee may have to be taken down if it's unsafe to the public."

He unfortunately restated that he could not discuss who the developer is or what the current plan for the theatre and the two related lots are.

Then he asked us what he could do.

We asked for access to the building. He agreed we should see the inside and said he would move to arrange that.

At that point we proposed that the 11th Ward commission an independent study of the theatre's interior and marquee restorability. We told him we strongly believe that architects and restoration experts outside city government should examine the interior, compare with archival photos and produce cost estimates to do restoration work on the interior walls, ceiling and floors.

We proposed this study for three main reasons. First, the alternative to an independent study is to trust an unnamed developer proposing an unspecified plan to make life-or-death decisions about the building. This is unacceptable to STR and it's supporters. No matter what redevelopment plan is considered, such a report is necessary specifically to answer the central question of what "can" be saved and then address how can it integrate with the new plan.

Second: The blanket pessimism we heard from Department of Planning and Development (DPD) project manager John Molloy does not fit the photographs that ran in the Sun-Times story. The interior has been sadly damaged, there is no doubt - but what the extent of that damage actually is and what it may cost to restore seem to be questions nobody has asked. We can begin that work with the promised access, but that is only a beginning.

Third: DPD, despite what we are sure are their best efforts, have a recent record in the neighborhood of having developments and developers "get away" from them. As examples, we brought up the troubled Bridgeport Village development on Bubbly Creek (second story) and the halted progress resulting in years of empty lots on Halsted Street between 31st and 33rd. We noted that DPD has seen its Commissioner step down last week now has a brand new Commissioner. The Alderman agreed that the department is "in flux" as a result.

Unfortunately, the alderman rejected the independent study idea out of hand, citing lack of funds. But he did promise to "work with DPD" to "find out what we need to find out" about the preservability of the theatre features. He seems to think that DPD has made a study of the subject of preservability (which is news to us, by the way) and that he would obtain a copy of that work. He asked us to return to his office "after November 11th" (Veteran's Day) and he would get that for us.

What does everyone think? Has anybody heard anything about the marquee before today? Or a study done by DPD?

Maureen & Rob

STR Gazette Article Hits Newsstands

Thanks much to writer Sarah Severson who gave us another great bit of coverage, this time in the community paper Chicago Gazette. Read it here.

Rob

Newsflash: City Also Prefers A Restored Theatre

As we know, the City of Chicago is the current owner of the Ramova. We have obtained the original Request For Proposals (RFP) posted in 2002 by the City's Department of Planning and Development (DPD). This is the document where the City asks for re-development plans from private developers for the Ramova Theatre building.

This document originally appeared at the City Of Chicago Website but has long since been removed. We recovered the document this afternoon and put it up for everyone to read here.

In this 2002 call to private developers, the DPD plainly states:

The City prefers proposals that would rehabilitate the building's interior and Halsted Street facade for performing arts, cultural, or cinema-related uses. Proposals must demonstrate that the theater would be managed by an experienced operator and that programing would be high-quality and reflective of the character of the surrounding community.

So this confirms that in August 2002 the DPD believed the Ramova could be restored to its former status as a operating movie theatre! We couldn't agree more - even after seeing the water damage to the interior (damage that was certainly in place when DPD wrote this RFP!)

Rob

Thanks for your support!

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to also say thanks for all of your support.

We have a meeting with Alderman Balcer on Tuesday, October 11, 2005. Since he is on our side, according to his comments in the Sun Times this past week, it should be a strategy session regarding the future plans for the theater building.

We know that many of you really want her to be restored to a theater and we share this dream. We will surely let Alderman Balcer, the DPD for the city and the prospective developer know that many of you support a redeveloped movie theatre for the Ramova. We have read all of your comments and plan to bring them to the powers that be, when the time is right. Thanks again for sharing them with us. :-)

We'll post Tuesday to let you know what happens in our meeting.

We anticipate a meeting with the DPD and the prospective developer sometime in the very near future.

Maureen

500th Petition Signature!

Well, everybody, Maureen and I can't belive the response. We thank all of you so much! Everybody has been absolutely great in speaking up about the dear old Ramova. Hundreds of neighbors and the Alderman agree that the place is worth saving. Just take it from Jenny M. of S. Lowe Avenue, our 500th petition signer:

I am a designer and a proponent of architectural preservation. Too many Chicago theatres have been torn down and this is a chance for Bridgeport to restore, rather than reface. Please don't go the easy route of destruction and condo-building. Do the brave thing.

Bravo Jenny! Thanks to everyone who signed and spoke up in defense of the Ramova. Keep on spreading the word!

Rob