A proposed major renovation project is still possible at the site of the former Loew’s Evanston 5 movie theater despite a study that says such an effort couldcost $13 million – more than three times the original projection.
Although no final plans have been made, Light Opera Works and Dance Center Evanston are still interested in renovating the former movie theater, 1702 Central St., into a performance theater and dance studio.
The space became available after the Feb. 15, 2001, closing of the movie theater, located in the Central Street business district one block west of Ryan Field.
In June 2001, City Council voted to fund a $56,100 study evaluating the cost and feasibility of the renovation. The $13 million price tag was three times what the organizations had expected, but according to Bea Rashid, director of Dance Center Evanston, performance venues are so tight in Evanston the plans will remain in the works.
“There really is very little dance space in Evanston,” she said.
The dance center has been looking for a new space for two years and hopes to transform the former theater into a 6,000 square foot dance studio, Rashid said. Its current location is 2,800 square feet.
Ald. Stephen Engelman (7th), whose ward includes the site, said the renovation and new tenants would bring business to the area in the evenings. Restaurants and other businesses have seen fewer customers since the theater closed and Engelman said the site was valuable to bring people to the area.
“This would not only be a great addition to the community, it would bring people in to Evanston,” Engelman said.
These two organizations and the other groups they rent the space to also would help the city by adding to the sales tax it collects through adjacent businesses, Engelman said.
Another option would be to open a second-run theater at the location, a type of business Engelman said most college towns have. But his first choice would be the theater renovations.
A second-run theater airs older movies at a lower cost than standard theaters.
Engelman also praised Light Opera Works as a valuable asset to the community and the premier operetta group on the North Shore.
“Light Opera Works is a unique cultural experience,” he said.
The group is an Evanston-based non-profit professional theater company that performs musical theater. The company, which was founded in 1980, performs at 927 Noyes St.
Dance Center of Evanston has two programs. One is a dance academy that provides classes for youth dancers and the other is the Evanston Dance Ensemble, a youth ballet company that performs once a year. Because of the studio’s lack of space, they currently rent two other locations for classes and hold performances at the Northshore Center for the Preforming Arts in Skokie.
Rashid said the location on Central Street would be a great location for the studio that is near public transportation and would allow large open spaces that the studio needs. Even if the project does not include the theater, Rashid said the studio still would be interested in converting just the dance studio at a smaller cost.
If the plans for the theater proceed, approval from the council still would be needed to build an 80-foot fly tower the organizations want for the theater.
