Council Reviews Highland Park Theater Ideas

Five proposals ranging from a traditional movie theater use to retail and office space for the existing Highland Park Theater building will be discussed by the Highland Park City Council during its Committee of the Whole meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in City Hall.

The City owned theater has been shuttered since May of last year after a number of fire safety violations were discovered.

After publically requesting a formal Request for Expression of Interest and Qualifications, the City received five proposals by the August 9 deadline which it will discus Monday, according to an internal memorandum. The Council hopes to select a developer by late September.

One proposal would utilize private funds to build a new multi-screen movie theater with a city financed parking deck. Another respondent wants to renovate the existing theater and build retail space on the adjacent parking lot, also owned by the City.

A third entity wants to lease the property and renovate it into a multi-use entertainment facility while a fourth wants to build a multi-use retail and office building “to possibly include the restoration of the existing building” according to the memorandum.

The final idea involves managing the space for a theater company and “other entertainment uses,” according to the memo. The City is keeping the identity of those putting forth proposals and the details of their ideas confidential.

The full agenda for the Committee of the Whole and City Council meeting including the memorandum about the theater property can be found on the Village’s website.

 Want Highland Park news in your inbox? Subscribe to Patch's newsletter. Then, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.