The DuPage Theatre in Lombard, vacated in 1999 and the subject of years of debate in this western suburb, was approved in June for partial renovation in conjunction with a large condominium and retail development—a $40 million project—at the intersection of Main Street and Parkside Avenue, which will be developed by RSC & Associates with architect Daniel P. Coffey. While the theater’s altered auditorium will be demolished and replaced with a smaller 300-seat auditorium, the lobby, façade

and retail/residential portion of the building will be renovated. The 78-year old DuPage Theatre was listed in LPCI’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list in 2000. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, the debate centering on whether the theater should be preserved or demolished has often divided the community. After years of failed projects and “grand ideas” by speculators, the Lombard Village Board had voted to demolish the village-owned property on June 1, 2005.

In October of 2005, the local Friends of the DuPage Theatre and LPCI, joined by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Lombard Historical Commission and resident Pete Kramer, decided to file a lawsuit in DuPage County to halt demolition. The basis of the lawsuit was to allow the Lombard Historical Commission its right, by ordinance, to enact a six-month demolition delay while seeking alternative solutions. The Village Board had denied the Lombard Historical Commission its review authority.

While the court’s decision was in favor of the village, based on a discrepancy in the way the DuPage Theatre was designated a local landmark, the eight-month lawsuit itself allowed for enough of a delay that RSC & Associated was able to negotiate with Lombard officials toward an acceptable plan. Although the RSC plan was unexpectedly voted down in a May 25th village board meeting, an impromptu exchange during the meeting between RSC president Rich Curto and village trustee Richard Tross prompted Tross to call for a reconsideration of the vote in June, after several remaining questions about the project could be addressed. A sticking point for Tross was assurance that the auditorium portion of the building have civic dedication. Once RSC agreed to the arrangement and several other concerns, the village board reversed its previous vote by 4-1 to enter into a redevelopment agreement with RSC.

Deb Dynako, president of the Friends of the DuPage Theatre stated, “LPCI, the National Trust and the law firm of Rachlis Durham have been steadfast in their support of our group and our cause to save this important Lombard landmark. Without their vast knowledge-base, dedication and financial support, the DuPage Theatre might not have been saved.” LPCI contributed $10,000 toward the lawsuit out of its Heritage Grant Fund. The firm of Rachlis, Durham, Duff and Adler, LLC contributed countless pro-bono hours toward the effort.