New Hope for the Davis?
achicagoreader
By BEN JORAVSKY
New Hope for the Davis?
A month ago North Center residents were all but mourning the death of
the Davis, the second-run movie house at Lincoln and Wilson. Now
they're holding out hope.
Here's what's been happening. The developer who had offered to buy the
building for $1.3 million dropped out of the deal after Alderman
Eugene Schulter opposed the zoning change needed to convert the
theater to condos.
The building was put back on the market, and local residents decided
to get serious. Instead of just clamoring against the gentrification
of their neighborhood, they would do something to prevent it.
On December 29 several residents formed the Davis Theater Preservation
Corporation. The next day they made a bid on the Davis.
If all goes well they'll raise enough money to make a down payment, do
basic repairs, and run the building as it is: affordable rentals
upstairs, restaurants, small businesses, and the movie theatre on the
first floor. "Our bid was strong and substantial and competitive,"
says Mary Edsey, a resident who helped form the preservation group.
"The theater building is a miniversion of what the community's
fighting for. There's affordable housing, small businesses, and a
low-price theater. If we're able to purchase the building we'll be
able to preserve the unique architecture and character of the
neighborhood."
If the group doesn't purchase it, the owners will sell to someone else
who may or may not keep the theater. For what it's worth, Schulter is
pledging to do whatever he can to guarantee that the Davis remains
open. He says the owners have told him that they won't sell unless the
buyer promises to keep the theater.
Residents are hopeful Schulter will keep up the pressure, if only
because it's in his best interests. He's in the midst of a heated
challenge against his old mentor, Democratic committeeman Ed Kelly.
The last thing Schulter needs is to alienate hundreds of voters as the
politician who lost the Davis.
There have been three bids so far on the property. The owners are
waiting for one or two more.
Stay tuned.
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