City Chooses Broker to Ultimately Sell Highland Park Theater

The Highland Park City Council has decided to negotiate a contract with @Properties, in an effort to sell the shuttered Highland Park Theater property at 441-447 Central Avenue, according to a press release from the city. 

"This next step in the redevelopment of the Highland Park Movie Theater property has been done with careful consideration and diligence," said Mayor Nancy Rotering in the release. 

Rotering went on to say that the partnership-if approved by the city council at its April 16 meeting-will allow the city to find a fiscally responsible solution for the theater while enhancing the downtown area. 

Both the property the theater sits on, in addition to the adjacent parking lot will be included in the potential sale. A stipulation, according to the press release, would be that there is no net loss of parking spaces for patrons of downtown businesses. 

The City of Highland Park purchased the theater property for $2.1 million in 2009. The Highland Park Theater officially closed its doors in 2012 for "life safety reasons" according to the release. 

Deputy City Manager Ghida Neukirch said after a walk-through by the City Council Monday, an additional $15,000 was approved to serve the current tenants of the building in addition to maintenance. In total, $25,000 has been allotted by the city council for maintenance of the property.