Midsize Theater Project: Got Three Years and $25 Million?
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But, as those awaiting the space know all too well, the green light hasn’t been given to the project and isn’t expected to be in the near future. After about a year and a half of consulting work and discussions with arts groups about the kind of theater they need, the options have been narrowed to three sites: Navy Pier, Cityfront Centre, and Dearborn Station. Negotiations are ongoing with representatives from each site to determine which of the three will offer the best deal. Once an offer is accepted, Chicago Community Trust spokesman Richard Turner says it could take one to eight weeks to seal the deal. Even so, Turner notes, “We’ve got no timetable in mind at this time.”
Whichever site finally gets the nod, the considerable challenge of raising the $25 million or so needed to build the theater remains. According to Turner, philanthropic foundations backing the project are expected to ante up some of the construction cost, but by no means all of it. At her recent meeting with dance organizations Yamamoto stressed that other arts groups throughout the city are currently seeking a whopping $500 million in new capital for building projects, Yamamoto’s way of suggesting it won’t be a snap finding the bucks for the midsize theater. The $500 million figure includes funds for Lyric renovations at the Opera House and Civic Theatre as well as money for the building projects of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Goodman Theatre, among others.
The Lesters learned just how valuable a connection they’d lost only three days after learning of the Rosner & Liss move, when Blackman announced his Art 1993 Chicago would host an opening-night benefit for Gallery 37, the summer outdoor art school that is a pet project of Commissioner Weisberg. Last year the Lesters hosted an opening-night benefit for Gallery 37. “They [Rosner & Liss] were very helpful to us in obtaining Gallery 37,” notes David Lester, “and I am sure they will use that same influence on Tom’s behalf.”
