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.

    The United Artist Theater originally opened as the Apollo Theater in 1921 at 45 West Randolph St.  It was a live theater venue.  It was built by A.H. Woods.  The building was designed by the firm of Holibird and Roche.

     In 1927, Woods sold the theater building to the United Artist Corporation.  It was renamed the United Artist Theater. It was remodeled by Howard Crane in the Spanish Gothic Style. The auditorium ceiling had a cove lit dome with 10 port holes.  The lobby had a middle eastern motif.  There was one screen and 1,703 seats.

     In 1929, management of the theater was taken over by Balaban and Katz.  Later management companies included ABC/Great Lakes, Cineplex Odeon and Plitt.

     It featured exclusive runs and premiers of top Hollywood films. 

     In the 1970’s, features include action and horor films.

     From 1950 until its closing, it had  an elaborate marquee which wrapped around the building curved corner entramce.

     It operated until 1987.  It was demolished in 1989.

    The Chiquita Boat Lock is located at 5808 Cape Coral Drive in Cape Coral, Florida.  It provides access from the Camelot Canal and the Southwest Spreader into the Caloosahatchee River.    It is operated by the Marine Services Division of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation.

     There is currently a controversy occurring between the City of Cape Coral and the Department of Environmental Protection  ( seeking to remove the lock) and Environmentalists (seeking to have the lock maintained).  A decision on this project is planned to occur before the end of 2018.

     The Midpoint Bridge is located in southwest Florida.  It crosses the Caloosahatchee RIver connecting  Fort Myers and Cape Coral.  It carries County Road 884 (known as Colonial Drive in Fort Myers and Veterans Parkway in cape Coral).

     It opened in October, 1997.  It is a concrete girder fixed structure. It has four lanes.  It is 1.25 miles in length.  It is 80 feet wide.  It has a clearance of 55 feet.

     It is a toll bridge owned by the Lee County Department of Transportation.

     In the 1920’s, the Fort Myers Pleasure Pier Complex was erected West of the Caloosahatchee River Bridge.  By the 1940’s, the pier pilings had severely deteriorated. The pier was razed.

     The upstairs pavilion was saved.   It was transported upriver in 2 sections.  It was relocated to Edwards Drive.

     During World War 2, the relocated building served as a USO Center for soldiers stationed at Buckingham Gunnery School and Page Airfield.

     In 1965, the Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce converted the building into the Tourist Center.  The building was remodeled in 1981.  It was also known as The Hall of 50 States.

    Currently, the building is unused.  Its future is uncertain.

The Caloosahatchee Bridge was built in 1962. Due to legal issues it did not open until 1964. It carries Cleveland Avenue across the Caloosahatchee River. The south side of the bridge passes over Centennial Park.

It is a concrete girder fixed bridge. It is 55 feet tall. There are four lanes.

On November 1st, 2018, the process of dismantling another Chicago landmark is set to begin. The Chicago Avenue Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River.is set to be demolished. The current bridge was built over 104 years ago. This is a steel pony truss bascule bridge. It would have been eligible to be on the National Register of Historic Spaces. During its life span, there have been 14 Chicago mayors and 18 U.S. Presidents. Due to lack of regular maintenance, the current bridge has severely deteriorated. It currently supports only one.lame of traffic in each direction.

The current project will be occurring in stages. The current bridge will be removed. For a period of months, there will be no bridge at this site. A temporary bridge will be installed. It will have 3 lanes–2 eastbound and one westbound.

The permanent bridge will be installed in 2021. It will be a fixed bridge. It will have two lanes in each direction.

Old Chicago Avenue Bridge

Old Chicago Avenue Bridge

Bridge House Chicago Avenue Bridge

This Drive In was located at Firano Drive and Davis Boulevard in Naples, Florida. It opened on February 29, 1974. The facility was built by A.W. Cook, Jr of Cook Theaters. He was the contractor for the facility. It had a capacity of 700 cars on two parking ramps. There were 2 screens measuring 80 X 40 feet. Air conditioning units were available for the cars.

.

     The drive in was part of a family recreational center.  Included was the drive in theater, miniature golf course, and a driving range.There was a flea market on Saturday and Sunday. Different movie formats were attempted including first run movies, B movies, X and R rated movies.

     The drive in property was sold to a new owner from Fort Lauderdale.  In 1994, they hired Jack Hegarty and his family to manage the Naples Drive In.  He previously managed drive in theaters and worked for General Cinema of Fort Lauderdale.  Changes made by the new management included year long operation of the drive in, farmers market and flea markets Saturday and Sunday. 

   Last movie were shown on April 30, 2006.   Property was sold.  The drive in was demolished.  The property was redeveloped for luxury homes.

   

 The Lincoln Drive In opened at 3901 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort.Myers on February 19, 1953.  It was advertised as a theater for people of color only. The Lincoln closed.  It reopened on May 9, 1953 as the Starlite Drive In.

     In 1955, the theater was operated by M. Solomon and ABC Theatrical Enterprises.  The parking ramp had a capacity of 350 cars.  It closed in January, 1970.    It was demolished.