Construction is slated to begin in 2018 on the Irving Park Road Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River.  The current bridge is one hundred years old.  Project is planned to be completed in 2020. 

     Goal is to improve and rebuild the bridge.  The crossing will remain open during construction.  The bridge will be removed and rebuilt in stages beginning with the south portion.  Estimated cost is $6.4 million.

     The bridge will be widened.  Sidewalks will be widened.  New pedestrian rails will be installed.  New protective rails between the roadway and sidewalks will also be installed.

     Associated with the bridge project, a 12 foot wide multi-use path will be built along the river.  To the south, it will connect with the projected Riverview Bridge.  To the north, it will connect to the Horner Park Path.

     

     Little information is available about the Argyle Theater.  It was located at 4930 N. Lawrence Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.  The building was constructed in 1910.  It was 38 X 100 feet. The architect was C.W. Stevens.  There was one screen. Seating capacity was 300.  

     It was in operation from 1910 until 1915. In 1916, it was plagued by union problems, a fire and a shooting.  By the 1920’s, a car dealership was located at the corner site of the theater.  Currently, there is a parking lot at the site. 

     This theater is located in a strip mall at 9180 W. Golf in Niles, Illinois. It opened in 1984 as a Essaness Theater.  It was subsequently was managed by Cineplex Odeon and then Loews Cineplex.  The theater closed in the late 1990’s as a part of Loews Cineplex bankruptcy.

     In 2002, it was reopened by the Village Theater Chain as the six screen Golf Glen.  It closed again in 2006.

     It was subsequently reopened with five screens by the Phoenix Ad Labs Chain.    In 2010, it was opened by its subsidiary Phoenix Big Cinema.  In 2014, it was taken over by Miramax Cinemas.  It currently features East Indian Movies.

The theater was located at 190 N. State in Chicago. When it opened in 1919 it was a vaudeville venue. It was part of the Orpheum Circuit.  In the front was an office designed by Rapp and Rapp.  The auditorium was designed by G. Albert Lansburgh.

The theater subsequently became part of the RKO chain.  It was named for its location near the corner of State and Lake.  In 1938, it became a part of the Balaban and Katz Chain.  It had one screen and a capacity of 2,649 seats.  Until 1941, there were live acts and movies.  After that time, movies only were shown

The theater was closed in 1984.  The interior was gutted and was converted into offices and studios for ABC television station WLS.

    After many proposal over the years, it appears that the 75 million dollar restoration project of the 93 year old Uptown Theater may begin summer of 2019.  Apparently, the Chicago Community Development Commission is to be informed of this on November, 2018.

     The Commission is set to approve the public financial elements of the restoration project for Jam Productions and Farpoint Development.  It is also expected to approve the sale (for $1) of a 31,000 square foot city owned parking lot at 1030 West Lawrence to support the theater operations.

     The Commission is set to announce the firms involved in the project.  Lead architect will be the firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative.   They will work with Schuler Shook ( a well known theater restoration firm).  Other members were MacRostie Historic Advisors (specialist in using tax credits as a part of Historic theater rennovations), Farfront Structural Engineers, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (facade restoration), WMA Conrad  Consulting Engineers (working on building mechanical guts),Conrad Schmitt Studios (Consulting on historic finishes needed for a Rapp and Rapp movie palace)

     City of Chicago is confident that the project has adequate financing.  Current financing is from multiple sources.    13 million from TIF.  14 million in property assessed clean energy financing.  3 million in adopt a landmark financing.   The bulk of the remaining $75 million is from investments from Jam and Farpoint and commercial bank loans.

     Projected opening of the Uptown is 2021.  Please note some of these promises have been heard before.