Ok, I do not know the facts but based on our recent tax bills let's hope we get the garage up and running ASAP. Also not sure of the issue with the theater but did we not due dilligence on this and why would public safety be an issue on a venue purchased by the city and run for the last couple of years? Just saying:) The public needs more information on these issues.

I feel bad for the restaurants on the east side of downtown. I thought we wanted to have more people come to Highland Park , but not now.

Forest, very valid point if there were safety violations with the HP Theatre why has the city not taken care of them considering they own the theatre..

This makes no sense..

People have been talking for years about the H.P. movie theater being a fire trap. We stopped going there for that reason a long time ago. I agree with the comments before mine - why did the city spend so much money on property without having it checked out for fire regulation compliance. UGH, this story keeps getting worse.

Its a quick fix to shut it down rather than fix it or sell it. The village owns it. Who are you going to blame for not maintaining it and keeping it up to standards that are safe.

You cant pass the blame on this to anyone but our City for not taking care of this over the last couple of years.....

Come on.......

I agree that if there are safety violations they should be addressed. However, I do feel the City has and should have opportunities to sell the Theatre based on a good concept discussed below. This opportunity was at hand ,yet the purchase was so politicized in the past that it made this difficult to move forward.
The last census indicated that Highland Park is aging in place. Highgland Park is also a place with many spoerts fans. Highland Park is also a destination for arts and entertainment for many people on the North Shore. So here is the concept that warrants consideration today-specify a bid that includes the following: 1) Digital theatres where orchestras; operas; and live theatre can be piped in from remote locations 2) Do the same for sporting events such as the final four, the Super Bowl, etc.3) Enable the serving of alcohol and food- the latter should be less than a meal so as to not compete with area restaraunts 4) Enable rentals for corporate events during slow nights 5) Build in the ability to convert one of the movie theatres into a stage for live performance such as jazz, comedy, or lecutres.
With leadership and vision this sort of facility would be an additional economic development engine for the City, generating addtional sales tax and enhanced propoerty values downtown.

Richard M Daley hasn't moved into HP, has he? Will we wake up one morning to read that the HP Theater had to be torn down in the middle of the night due to "fire safety concerns" that the city didn't find in their inspection of the property before they purchased it, and the regular annual fire inspections of the property that must take place as regular as with any business in the city?

Speaking of the safety of the theater, Makes me think of Captain Renault in Casablance, "Rick, I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

Great comments Mike. First learn how to spell. Next admit it was your stupid idea to buy it in the first place. Why would a city buy a Theater that was in horrible shape 10 years ago? Probably the dumbest idea the city ever had and it was yours. Just hide somewhere Mike. The only thing dumber was your role in screwing up pensions for public workers around the country. Your participation in setting unrealistic rates of return was a major cause in pension problems.

Re: the violations - does anyone have the preliminary report they can share?

The Highland Park News has details of the violations as well as the fallout.

How sad if the theater closes - a real loss to downtown Highland Park! Although I live in a different suburb, I grew up in Highland Park and remember many enjoyable Friday and Saturday evenings at the HP theater. It certainly has "character" and history - if not landmark status. Remember, Winnetka kept its Community House.... Profits aren't everything.

This situation, particularly with respect to the Port Clinton garage, seems like a bit of grandstanding and over- reaction. Safety is important, but stationing watchers in the garage would be an acceptable alternative solution to shutting it down, pending repairs, given the absence of any fires in the garage in its 30+ year life. All the emergency meetings also seem melodramatic.

I used to go to the Alcyon when I was a kid. Restore it back to one large theater, and get better movies. Everyone has a small theater at home now. Amp old style movie theater maybe just the thing!

I think the old theatre is great! It gives the town character. I think having live music in one stage while adding alcohol and food would be a lucrative idea. I went to school in Champaign, where they had a brew and view. Movie theaters that offer these services are few and far between and would attract people from nearby towns.