PORTAGE PARK — Urgent repairs are needed for the historic Portage Theater, and local leaders express concerns that time is running out.
Four months ago, the city filed a lawsuit against the theater’s owner for alleged building code violations. During a recent Cook County Circuit Court hearing, city inspectors reported that necessary repairs remain unaddressed.
Amie Zander, managing director of the Six Corners Association, emphasized the urgency, stating, “We need to move on this; it’s getting out of hand. We’re sick of this.”
Neighbors have been advocating for the theater’s restoration for over a decade. Owner Manuel Gliksberg purchased the property in 2018, intending to transform it into a concert venue and community space. Six years later, the theater is still vacant and has been listed as one of the state’s most endangered sites.
Gliksberg has not provided updates since 2022, and the city shut down an illegal rave held inside the theater in August 2023.
Zander mentioned, “We’re losing time. It’s just getting older and falling apart.” The 103-year-old theater, located at 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., ceased operations as a cinema in 2001 and was granted landmark status in 2013. It served various community functions until its closure in 2018.
In May, the theater was included on Landmarks Illinois’ list of the Most Endangered Historic Places. The city’s lawsuit names Portage Theater, LLC, Avra Properties, LLC, and unnamed claimants as defendants, citing numerous building code violations, including damaged exterior walls and unauthorized repairs.
A city inspector noted that four of the five lateral supports holding up the theater’s marquee are damaged, posing a risk of collapse. If repairs do not commence soon, the city may petition for a receiver to be appointed, a step taken when owners are unable or unwilling to fix hazardous conditions.
Gliksberg’s attorney stated that a receiver is unnecessary, assuring that repairs will begin soon. Gliksberg has reportedly submitted an engineer’s report to the city, as requested in a prior hearing.
Local leaders hope the endangered status will attract attention and funding for the theater’s repairs. During the August hearing, Kendra Parzen, an advocacy manager with Landmarks Illinois, offered to assist Gliksberg in navigating the regulations associated with landmark properties but has not been able to contact him since.
Gliksberg reportedly owes approximately $300,000 in back taxes on the property and risks losing it if those taxes remain unpaid. City attorney Glenn Angel remarked that the city is taking the situation seriously, highlighting that visible progress, such as a repaired canopy, would indicate the owner’s commitment.
Another hearing on the Portage Theater’s status is scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
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