Plans for a 57,000-square-foot fine arts center at Naperville’s North Central College were unanimously approved by the City Council Monday, despite concerns about the school’s financial contribution to the city’s parking needs.
The $26.5 million facility will be built at Ellsworth Street and Chicago Avenue. It will include a 13,000-square-foot, 605-seat concert hall to be named for Dr. Myron Wentz, a 1963 North Central graduate. The center also will include a lobby, gallery, 150-seat black box experimental theater, music rehearsal space, practice rooms and offices.
The center is expected to draw a variety of events, including at least 10 major attractions a year. The college is offering a minimal amount of parking on its grounds and is leaning on the city to help provide the majority of spaces at the Central Parking Facility across from the site of the new center.
City staff and college officials worked out an agreement where 50 cents of every ticket sold will go to the city to help pay for a new parking deck. City officials plan to tear down the Central Parking Facility and build a new deck with more than 1,050 parking spaces.
Some council members questioned why the fee did not increase over the 20 years needed to pay off the deck. But Councilman Grant Wehrli supported the 50-cent surcharge, saying the center would provide a huge economic boost to the downtown.
Upon approval, the council required the ticket surcharge to be reviewed periodically over 20 years. The council also reserved the right to review extending the surcharge after 20 years.
The college expects to have a ceremonial groundbreaking in May, with the center completed in 18 to 24 months.