“After seven years with little progress, the owner of the historic and decaying Portage Theater is giving up the property.

“Manuel Gliksberg, who is listed as the registered agent for real estate company Avra Properties, LLC, bought the theater in 2018. At the time, Gliksberg said he wanted to turn the 105-year-old theater into a concert venue and community event venue. But the theater has continued to sit empty and could now go into receivership.

“The city filed a lawsuit against Avra Properties for building code violations in July. It alleged Gliksberg put up scaffolding and made building repairs without a proper permit while failing to maintain the building in “a structurally safe and stable condition.”

“City attorney Glenn Angel said during a Thursday hearing the theater’s owner does not have the funds to maintain the property. The Portage Theater owner on Monday filed a motion to withdraw from the property, attorney Thomas Carroll said.

“The court appointed Chicago Neighborhood Resources Advisors LLC to conduct an initial feasibility study for the property. The group will determine the cost of needed repairs and outstanding property taxes, Kristen Cabanban, a spokesperson for the city’s Law Department, said in an email to Block Club.

“Avra Properties owes almost $227,000 in taxes on the property. The property’s 2021 and 2022 delinquent taxes were sold, but Carroll said he did not know the identity of the tax buyer. Angel said the redemption period for paying the buyer of the theater’s delinquent taxes has expired, which could complicate the receivership process.

“The 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.

“Last spring, theater historian Andy Pierce said the Portage Theater was Six Corner’s ‘missing piece.’ Pierce called the appointment of a receiver ‘good news’ and said it would at least bring some “motion” to the long-vacant property. (DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 3/21/25)

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. 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

• 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