“The historic Portage Theater could get a new owner — if the property’s hefty overdue tax bill can get sorted.

“The Portage Theater has been embroiled in a lawsuit involving building code violations for nearly 10 months. The theater’s owner, Avra Properties, LLC, gave up the property last month because it lacked the funds to maintain it. Now, a potential buyer has surfaced.

“Yet before the sale can move forward, thousands of dollars in back taxes owed on the property must be redeemed.

“James Erwin, an attorney representing the potential buyer, said during a Thursday hearing that his client would like to see the property return to its roots as a movie theater.

“‘The only reason it fell apart was there were no contingencies in place to get back our $85,000 if the deal didn’t go through,’ Erwin said during an April 3 hearing. ‘My client is very interested in purchasing the property and preserving the theater.’

“During the Thursday hearing, Amie Zander, managing director of the Six Corners Association, said the building has sat vacant with no heat and no air conditioning for years and is deteriorating.

“The 105-year-old theater has had a series of owners since it closed as a cinema in 2001. It served as a venue for children’s dance recitals, concerts, day camps and silent film screenings before closing for good in 2018.

“The city granted the theater landmark status in May 2013. In the Six Corners Economic Development Master Plan, published in August 2013, rehabilitating the theater was listed as a top priority. The theater was named one of the most endangered historic sites in the state in May.

“’We hope that it will be a positive for the community. It’s a huge parcel in our downtown district, so we’re really optimistic that something good will come of all of this,’ Zander said. ‘We’re just really anxious to see something happen with this very large property.’” (DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 4/25/25)

Preservation Chicago has been advocating for the restoration and reactivation of the Portage Theater for many years. The Portage Theater was a Chicago 7 Most Endangered in 2012 and played an important leadership role in the Chicago Landmark Designation process in 2013.

At the most recent Building Court hearing, Ward Miller spoke in support of resolving the issues and moving forward with a restoration and reopening of the Portage Theater. We continue to work closely with neighborhood partners and have attended the recent Building Court hearings to advocate on behalf the historic landmark building

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Prospective Portage Theater Owner Wants To Restore It As A Cinema, But Tax Issues Remain; An attorney for the potential buyer said his client wants to return the Portage Theater to its roots as a movie theater. But before the sale can go through, the theater’s back taxes must be redeemed, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 4/25/25
• $503,000 owed in property taxes for Portage Theater; owner not at building court hearing, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 5/9/25
• Historic Portage Theater Could Go Into Receivership As Owner Gives Up Property; Attorneys said Thursday the theater’s owners filed a motion to withdraw from the property. Community leaders said they feel like plans to restore the theater are “back at square one.” Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 3/21/25
• Historic Portage Theater Deteriorating As City Pushes Owner To Make Urgent Repairs: ‘We’re Sick Of This’; The city is suing the theater’s owner for unauthorized work and code violations. Inspectors say the marquee could collapse if repairs aren’t made as soon as possible, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 10/28/24
• Portage Theater: Chicago Movie Theaters, a Preservation Chicago 2012 Chicago 7 Most Endangered