The long-neglected Congress Theater in Logan Square is getting a major facelift after sitting vacant for more than a decade along Milwaukee Avenue.
An overhaul of The Congress has been in the works for years, but faced setbacks stemming from building infrastructure concerns and skyrocketing construction costs.
TIF funding and Private Investment
The news comes after City Council reached an agreement with the theater’s developer Baum Revision, including an updated financial package bolstered with $250,000 in Tax Increment Funding (TIF), according to a report by Block Club Chicago.
The newly allocated funds are part of a total TIF funding package of $27.25 million, according to Block Club, with the full project estimated to cost just over $88 million.
TIF funds will reportedly cover about 30% of the project’s total costs. The remainder will come from private investments and other funding sources.
Additionally, Baum Revision are reportedly partnering with architecture firm Woodhouse Tinucci Architects on the project.
The Congress’s Past, Present, and Future
Completed in 1926, The Congress Theater at 2135 N Milwaukee Ave. initially served as a movie palace and vaudeville house, before later functioning as a music venue.
In 2013, the city shut down The Congress due to mounting building code and safety violations, according to Block Club. The venue has deteriorated considerably over the past decade.
The sprawling development project will reportedly include a complete renovation of the historic theater, reimagining it as a 3,500 seat live entertainment venue.
The plan also covers additional renovations to the complex’s adjacent apartment and retail space.
A catalyst for revitalization
Pending approval from City Council, developers could break ground on the Congress’s renovation by next year, according to Chicago Yimby.
Similar projects like the recent Ramova Theater renovation in Bridgeport have paved the way for local historic preservation efforts.
Projects like the revival of the Ramova paint a picture of what the Congress’s future could look like.
City leaders are reportedly optimistic that the Congress’s restoration could lead to a broader revitalization of the surrounding Milwaukee corridor.