Highland residents got to see what the Town Theatre renovation might look like at a Town Council study session Monday that packed Lincoln Center with residents and others for and against the $3.2 million project.
The crowd filled the center’s banquet room to hear the proposed plans for the 425-seat theater a block north of Highway Avenue on Kennedy Avenue in the downtown district. John Morris, principal for Chicago-based Morris Architect Planners, said the theater itself would be shrunken down to 332 seats to accommodate wheelchair ramps as well as other amenities, such as performer dressing rooms and bigger bathrooms.
Most, however, were more interested in the finances than the amenities.
Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin said the now $3.2 million project would cost a homeowner with a $150,000 house $8.63 per year, and up to a dollar less for those who haven’t yet hit the property-tax circuit breaker. The original cost estimate from architectural firm VOA was approximately $1.9 million in 2014, which included the roof, audio-visual equipment and furnishings.
When the council voted in October 2014, the estimate given was between $1.8 million and $2.5 million to be funded via the City of Hammond’s repayment of the bond used to demolish River Park Apartments in Hammond’s Hessville section, tax increment financing and a new bond. That funding mechanism hasn’t changed, according to Griffin.
“It seems like a lot, but it’s not very much relative to (the town’s) tax base,” he said.
But those against the project were clear in their dissent. A social media campaign against the project gets nearly daily updates and responses. Highland resident David McAvoy said that while he enjoys arts and music, the town wasn’t generating any revenue before, so why would it now.
“Other towns are putting in microbreweries and nice restaurants,” he said.
Joe Rhodes called the project “financially irresponsible” and said that if the kids want to participate in theater, the high school has a program.
“If (the theater) was going to work, a business would’ve snapped it up by now,” he said.
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Proponents also took their place in line to speak.
Many members of Highland High School’s Explorers Club spoke in favor of the project, which would see them serve as volunteers. Others, such as Judy Katic, would like to spend more of the money she allocates for the arts in her home town.
“I’m tired of making the trip to Chicago,” Katic said.
The renovation of the Town Theatre is seen as the gateway to the creation of an arts and culture district in Highland and a way to expand the growth in downtown highland to the Kennedy Avenue corridor.
Most of the council’s concerns remained around the risk of failure. What does the town do if the project doesn’t attract the money, and what is the town’s liability?
The man with the answer to that question was Libman Group Principal Steve Libman, who presented his plan to council and community 21/2 years ago when the theater project was resurrected, said he can’t see the theater not bringing in revenue, but even if the worst happened, the town could file Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy.
Libman said the theater could be used for independent, foreign, film noir and short films as well as a film festival, though an event of that size and scope would need to come later. Conceivably, he said the theater could conservatively generate $17.42 in revenue per person outside the price of admission for the town between movies and live events.
The plan now includes significant changes to the physical building, virtually leaving only the front wall along Kennedy Avenue.
The north, south and west walls would be demolished and rebuilt to expand the building’s footprint, but the east wall would remain in place because it anchors the marquee, Morris said. The marquee itself would be refurbished, its lighting replaced with LED lights instead of neon; Morris would also save the two floor-to-ceiling luminaries already in the building.
The theater’s movie screen would be removable in order to accommodate live theater, music performances and concerts, Morris said. As well, the ceiling would be raised slightly for better acoustics and lighting.
Manuel Soto asked the council how much money has been devoted to the project. So far, $29,000 has gone to VOA for the original estimate, $232,000 to Morris Architect Planners and $8,000 to the Libman Group, for a total of $269,000, said Greg Kuzmar of the Redevelopment Commission.
The Town Council will vote on whether to go forward with the project during its regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.