Thank you to Rob and Tim of Vagnieres and Associates
We would like to extend a BIG thank you to Rob Vagnieres and Tim Condos of Rob Vagnieres and Associates. Rob and Tim are our architectural angels! They have taken my concept drawings (and added another version of my design as an alternate) and created some great preliminary drawings of our ideal design for the Ramova.
While we do not oppose re-development of the Ramova (as long as the architectural details and feel of the space are preserved), we would really like to see the theater maintained in a mixed-use capacity. We will bring the plans to our next meeting for you all to see.
Thanks again for your time and consideration!
Maureen- (and Rob W.)
P.S. If anyone needs are really great architect, please see: www.vagnieresarchitects.com
3 Comments:
Those drawings are mentioned in a article for the CHICAGO GAZETTE, which reported on the visit for their May 5 edition. Maureen is quoted in the article.
I can't add anything more to it except to say that if the city doesn't start finding a way to develop the site, the chance of the theater becoming damaged beyond repair grows larger every day, whether it be by water, fire, or time. Ald. Balcer has a point; If the RAMOVA catches on fire, there's a chance somebody is going to get hurt putting it out.
This is why signing the petition and posting here is important. It allows STR to go to the city and tell them a lot of people care about this theater and want something done about it. That's called democracy, or something along those lines.
I do like the idea to keep a theater of some kind in the building. There's no real movie theater in/around Bridgeport, and who knows, somebody might want to have a stage show in there. I just wonder where everybody is going to park.
Anyway, the article and link are below:
Ramova activists finally get access to theater
By Sarah Severson
After months of persistence from Save the Ramova, the organization’s co-founders, Maureen Sullivan and Rob Warmowski, were allowed inside the Ramova Theater at 3518 S. Halsted St. This abandoned property has drawn much attention as the City continues to work with unnamed developers to determine a new use for the building.
Sullivan and Warmowski had requested access to the building’s interior in September 2005 but finally were allowed inside only recently.
Eleventh Ward Alderman James Balcer and John Malloy from the City’s Department of Planning and Development accompanied Sullivan and Warmowski into the theater.
“I got the impression the Alderman wanted us to see how bad it was,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan described the theater as very dark and dangerous to walk around in without great caution. Parts of the ceiling have fallen, and there are holes in the floor from the old heating system large enough for a shoe to fall through.
Even with the space’s deterioration, Sullivan hopes parts of the theater can be preserved.
“The renovation the City wants is going to cost a bit of money, but there is enough architectural detailing to preserve,” Sullivan said. “The lobby has the most detail in the building, and while [the theater] is in serious disarray, there are certain spots that could be replicated.”
After seeing the inside, Balcer would like the City to move forward and do something, in part because of safety concerns.
“I am not going to endanger the life of a fireman, policeman, or citizen with this building,” Balcer said. “In my opinion, it’s in very bad shape. I think the façade can be saved, but how much can be saved inside, I don’t know.”
Balcer said going inside brought back memories from when he would go to the theater with his family starting in the 1950s and continuing through the 1970s.
The Ramova presents many possibilities via redevelopment, and the City is considering putting in some kind of eatery and entertainment facility, according to spokesperson Connie Buscemi.
The developers “are very interested and have made a commitment to the building’s historic significance and salvaging as much as possible,” Buscemi said.
A City proposal to redevelop the Ramova dates to November 2002, and Sullivan remains puzzled that nothing has happened since then. Although at least three nearby blocks sit empty, new development is coming to the area just north of the Ramova, which will bring new retail and condominiums to the neighborhood.
“We’re happy the neighborhood is starting to thrive, but we don’t understand what’s taking so long for our business district to come up,” Sullivan said. “In the last ten years, our property values have gone up 500%, yet there’s still nothing on Halsted. There are developers all around us, but nothing in the neighborhood.”
Nearby businesses have jumped on board, with both a bar and a video store putting the words “Save the Ramova” on their marquees. At the last Save the Ramova meeting, Sullivan counted 40 people in attendance. Interest from the community continues to build.
“It’s been an interesting journey,” Sullivan said. “It’s unfolding.”
A local architect has offered his services pro bono to help draft the organization’s proposals for the theater’s space. Save the Ramova has two plans, both for mixed-use development.
The first plan would combine a 300-seat theater with a café, coffee stand, gallery space, and meeting rooms. The second suggests two smaller theaters, one with 130 seats and the other with 75, along with the other amenities from the first plan.
Sullivan will meet with Balcer and the developer in the next month to discuss these ideas and again emphasize the need to preserve the details of the Ramova. She said her group is open to various options that may arise.
http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/0506/news/Newstory050609.htm
http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/0506/news/Newstory050609.htm
JTB:
We couldn't agree with you more.
I was waiting for The Gazette to upload this article. I just posted it as an actual post. :-)
We should have a meeting date posted by Thursday. Hope to see you there this time.
Thanks for your continued interest.
Maureen--
Woo-Hoo!!! Thome just hit a 3 run homer, Dye just hit another run!!! Go Sox!! Listen to that scoreboard roar!!! And now Crede just knocked Pierzynski in!!! WOW! Sox lead 6-1 Go Sox!
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