Should the Highland Park Theater Be Kept As An Entertainment Venue?

We asked Highland Park residents on a cold Thursday afternoon what should be done with the city-owned Highland Park Theater?

Watch the video.

The city is currently shopping for a real estate broker for the shuttered movie theater at 445 Central Ave. after a group of residents withdrew their proposal to renovate it as an entertainment and arts venue because funding fell through.

Mayor Nancy Rotering has said that after “exhausting numerous efforts to redevelop the property,” the city decided to put the old theater up for sale.

The 18,400-square-foot theater would be sold in “as-is” condition without any restrictions other than the current zoning requirements, the city said.

The property doesn’t have to be used as an entertainment venue, and as long as there is not let loss of parking, the city may throw the adjacent Ori parking lot into the deal.

Requests for proposals from prospective realtors were due to the city on March 7.
One thing Patch did learn from talking to residents, a lot of local memories are tied to the old theater.