Chicago Tribune: Waukegan theatre a costly gem

[Tweed]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0501090495jan09,1,5328835.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

"With its domed ceiling and 18-foot crystal chandelier, the newly restored Genesee Theatre was designed to be the crown jewel in a sweeping revitalization of Waukegan's moribund downtown.

But despite a gala opening last month with two sold-out shows by comedian Bill Cosby, some residents are howling about decisions that nearly doubled the project's price while halving the number of shows initially promised.

Originally envisioned as a moneymaker that would cost $14 million, pay off the city's bonds and draw 500,000 people annually, the Waukegan-owned theater is now expected to operate in the red for years. Just a handful of shows have been announced so far.

As money woes piled up--the costs ballooned to $24 million--so did controversy. Ray Shepardson, a nationally known theater restoration expert hired to run the project and book a packed year of shows, was fired months before the opening."


Yet another project that has an exploding budget in the Chicagoland area. You think people would begin to budget with some major leeway these days. It's great that Waukegan is trying to revive things though. I know they have been hit hard in the last couple of decades.

[papau]

1. The last 40 years had the shopping centers kill the Waukegan downtown.

There is little left of the center of Waukegan. Even the train is a bit of a walk down the hill. Indeed the hispanic nature of the new Genesee Street stores scares many of the old timers. Waukegan had a long history of the unions forcing economic integration and civility on the area, but there was never a lot of social integration.

And now the mills and factories are gone - and with them the unions.

And Dems - that were allowed back in union days to even win some elections despite major GOP cheating - seem to be less active in this new world.

But at least the harbor is filled up with more yuppie boats than you can shake a stick at!