Friday, January 20, 2006

* Adelphi's Last Stand

Workers Construct a Canopy Around Historic Theatre

Unless some heavy duty activist has plans (hint-hint) on camping out on top of the scaffolding, or handcuffing themselves to the metal railing under the wood awning, the day's are numbered for the Adelphi Theatre.

The next Grand Opening sign you will see is for up-scale condos even the Alderman claimed he wouldn't be able to afford.

Alderman Moore has made his decision. The Alderman chose a campaign contribution over the communities desires.

Another "Play to Pay" selfish act by our 49th ward Alderman. This is becoming a broken record with Alderman Moore. Can anyone say, "Hint of possible influence"?

Here is the last chance for Bill Morton and his group to claim this theatre for renovation or the wrecking ball will be knocking.

Does the Morton organization have any fight left?

21 comments:

Hugh said...

Citizens for the Adelphi Theater

Jim Witts said...

I quickly scanned over the adelphi web site.

I didn't see any concrete plans. Does anyone associate with this group have any concrete plans, or capital to do anything with the theatre?

Hugh said...

Here's the lein, slapped on the property 12/12/05:

Cook County Recorder of Deeds Document 0536216173

From ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE & FAMILY SERVICES to CEDOMIR ZURIC

$399,788.00

Hugh said...

Joe Moore, in his evenings/2nd shift job as real estate promoter, hosted one of his info-mercial presentations last September, and introduced this guy to the community.

Moore still has a letter on the front page of his web site singing the praises of this guy's proposal.

"The proposed development by Mr. Chad Zuric ... "

Steve said...

What do you want to save the theater for?

Hugh said...

Zuric hired Moore to make a personal apperance and to get a zoning change.

Cedomir Zuric, Secretary
Golden Hands Construction Company, Inc.
1741 W. Crystal
Chicago, IL 60622

6/8/2005 $1,000.00 Individual Contribution to Citizens for Joe Moore

9/14/05 Moore personal appearance

11/1/05 Zoning change passes, Moore votes in favor

The Illinois Department of Healtcare and Family Services also placed a lien on Zuric's 1741 W Crystal property (Cook County Recorder of Deeds document number 0536216174).

Hugh said...

$400K due in child support, no wonder Zuric needed a zoning change. They say "it takes a village." Mr. Zuric would like to thank the good people of Rogers Park for their support in raising his children in the style to which they have become accustomed.

Hugh said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Steve said...

The letter from Joe Moore fan seems reasonable to me. I ask again, what do you want to save the building for?

The only problem I see with the letter is haveing "affordable" housing. Too me that just means subsidised. That is a horrible idea IMO. They should all be market rate. Can I buy one of the "affordable" condos at a cut-rate price?

Hugh said...

nice crowd Joe hangs with

Joe makes the ward safe for geese while cutting deals with dead-beat dads

what about justice for children?

Hugh said...

> Can I buy one of the "affordable" condos at a cut-rate price?

if you are interested my best advice is to get a job with DevCorp North

Steve said...

I have a very nice job, thanks. Why won't anyone answer my question? I seems we have a lot of bleeding hearts with strong opinions here. I personally appreciate all that Craig has done/is doing. I reap the benefit of his vigilance.

I just don't understand what all the uproar is about this project. Is this a taxpayer funded project? Is is a subsidised project? That would worry me a bit. But to just stand here and shout about saving the theater without offering any viable alternative is senseless. Might as well go handcuff yourself to the scaffold.

Steve said...

Sounds good too except: "Through marketing and promotion and careful planning and programming, the Adelphi can be 85 - 90 percent self-supporting with the remainder coming from grants and donations."

That sentance is the heart of the deal. Who will do the careful planning and programing? Sounds like a lot of work and coordination. Is there meat (funding, demand, professional support) behind this plan? Who would do all the work?

Personally I dont like small theater, but I would support it. The risk is that a theater would need constant support to sustain so we could be back here in a few years discussing this again. Condos become the responsibility of the owners/association to maintain.

Im not for either route, just a concerned Lunt Ave home owner and resident for 10+ years.

Hugh said...

Did Ald. Moore introduce Cedomir Zuric to the neighborhood as "Chad" Zuric to keep the name Cedomir Zuric from appearing in a newspaper article or online coverage of a real estate development project?

Steve said...

I care about the neighborhood very much. Funny thing is that property value is directly correlated to the neighborhood. If the neighborhood improves, property values are soon to follow. It is not as if one can care about property value, but not about the neighborhood. The two go hand in hand. If you don't understand that then you should educate yourself more.

Jim Witts said...

Kind of seems like a moot point now. And I don't know much about the theatre business, but how is a business going to survive that is projected before even getting off the ground as only being able to pay 85-90% of its bills.

Sounds like it is doomed for failure unless it at least has hopes of turning a profit one day.

It did sound like a mostly good plan that would have benefited the community.

artjoevideo said...

The Adelphi building is not important architecture and it was not Paschke's final studio. Why don't you all cry about something else, like turning the Bach House into a museum with guided tours, or Paschke's final studio into a museum.

Joe on Estes

Hugh said...

> Is is a subsidised project?

Yes. This project was subsidized by the public in the form of lucrative change in our laws. This project was subsidized by the neighbors with a major sacrifice of density.

artjoevideo said...

Sacrifice?
Density?

Great cities are about density! Get your fat ass out of the car and walk or take public transit.

Joe on Estes

artjoevideo said...

It is prejudice to claim that I am not welcome in the community I call home because you disagree with my opinion.

Perhaps the new residents in CONDO CANYON (please?) will be more open minded.

Joe on Estes

p.s.
Paschke was no Picasso, the Adelphi is no Frank Lloyd Wright structure, and you don't own the property on 7070-78 N. CLARK STREET.

gf said...

althought the adelphi "building" is in disrepair and not architecturally significant, the lobby and most certainly the facade is. there was certainly the opportunity and the construction ability to save only the facade and lobby and include those historical elements as the grand entrance for the new building.

the new condo portion of the buiding could have been set back above the existing facade without overburdening the streetscape with a oversized, out of scale curtain wall.

the developer, not that i care about him and his finances, probably could have added additional floors by doing this. but i guess we have to be appreciative of the "architecturally significant clock" that was included as a design detail.

this architecturally insignificant masterpiece will proudly take it's place along side all the other badly designed, poorly executed and architecturally insensitive excuses for progress that are ruining the rich history of our city.

the real shame is that with a little more care, creativity and neighborhood design guidelines, a decent profit could have been realized while a piece of our history could have been preserved.

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