Congress Theater, that shabby-chic, rundown, but nonetheless iconic building built oddly on one of Milwaukee’s not so buzzing strips in the late 20s, has come to pass. Cadillac Palace developer Michael Moyer is planning to lead a $55 million restoration of the Congress theater.
The theater was originally a movie palace, one of many during the 1920s, but has been most recently known for being a venue for live events (which closed in 2013 due to an excessive amount of code violations), particularly electronic concerts. It was designated a historic landmark in 2002 by the city of Chicago since fewer than a half dozen remained after 2000. If you have ever been in the building or look at the pictures of the interior from this Curbed Chicago article, you’d see why we want to hang on to this building so bad. Simply put, it’s a beauty!
In the Chicago Tribune, Moyer states: “The proposed restoration calls for an inn with about 32 rooms and the redevelopment of the street facade to include restaurants and retail. The new venue will also include a rooftop lounge. What are currently 14 apartments will be spruced up and operated as affordable housing.”
The purchase is expected to close by the end of April with work starting up in June. The theater is determined to reopen in 2017.