“A City Council committee agreed Wednesday to support providing a $25.2 million federal loan — backed by Chicago’s share of community development block grants — to breathe new life into the landmark Congress Theater.

“It’s the fourth time that the Finance Committee has agreed to up the ante to save the deteriorating movie palace-turned concert venue at 2135 N. Milwaukee in Logan Square.

“Deputy Planning and Development Commissioner Jeff Cohen said the Housing and Urban Development loan is needed to salvage the ‘gut rehab’ because developers of the project were unable to secure a conventional loan — a problem that has little to do with ‘the operator’s ability to perform.’

‘Since it’s been sitting vacant and unused, it will continue to deteriorate if we can’t move forward… This is another attempt to help move this project forward to avoid any negative outcomes in the future,’ Cohen said.

“Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) said he does not believe the developer would have invested so much already in the Congress if Baum wasn’t ‘confident of the success of this space as an entertainment venue.’

“Noting that the surrounding TIF expires in 2027, La Spata added, ‘If we don’t find a way to get this done, not only does it not happen now — it does not happen for the forseeable future.’

“The plan calls for the Congress to be reborn as a ‘state of the art, 3,500-seat live music venue’ operated by AEG Presents. The project also includes 13,000 square feet of retail space along Milwaukee Avenue, 23,000 square feet of office space dedicated to nonprofits and community groups, and developing 16 residential units, with 14 of those qualifying as affordable housing.

“Roof replacement and restoration of the theater’s familiar marquee are in the plan. City planners also say a ‘significant amount of exterior stabilization’ is needed to keep the Congress operating for the next century. Inside, there would be an extensive revamp of interior systems and spaces with a particular focus on restoring the theater’s historic features, including lobby spaces and ornate fixtures.

“The Congress was built in 1926 in the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance style. The movie theater was once one of 30 of its kind in Chicago. In the 1980s, it was turned into a live music venue. It earned landmark status and a spot in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.” (Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, 1/14/26)

Preservation Chicago is hopeful that the Congress Theater renovation project will finally be moving forward after years of delays and false start. We have constantly advocated on behalf of this long neglected Chicago Landmark building and most recently testified in support of the Class L Tax Incentives.

The Congress Theater was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2002 in large part due to the strong advocacy and dedication of Preservation Chicago and Logan Square Preservation. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

Over the past 20 years, Preservation Chicago and Logan Square Preservation have continued to advocate for its restoration and reactivation. There have been many challenges and false starts, but we are optimistic that this renovation effort will prove successful.

Read the full story at Chicago Sun-Times

• Chicago aims to save landmark Congress Theater with $25.2M federal loan backed by city funds; Deputy Planning and Development Commissioner Jeff Cohen said the HUD loan is needed to salvage the “gut rehab” because developers of the project were unable to secure a conventional loan, Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, 1/14/26
• Will The Congress Theater Finally Be Revived? City Seeks $25 Million Loan To Make It Happen; The loan could get the project off the ground after years of delays, but the application has yet to be submitted due to the government shutdown, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 10/31/25
• City Council approves Class L for Congress Theater; The tax incentive will help finance the rehabilitation of the historic building, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 3/25/25
• Timeline Revealed For Congress Theater Redevelopment As Tax Incentives Are Approved, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 12/12/24
• Save Expiring City Funding; Ald. Daniel La Spata pushed through a proposal giving a developer more time to use $27 million in TIF funding for the ambitious project, drawing pushback from other community leaders, including Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 6/6/23
• City Council Revives Congress Theater Redevelopment Plan, Sets Up Key Votes To Advance $88 Million Project, The $88 million proposal was pulled out of the Rules Committee, which is considered legislative purgatory, after a labor agreement was reached between the theater operator and a local labor union, Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 4/19/23
• As Congress Theater Crumbles, Developer Wants $27 Million From City To Revive Logan Square Gem; The price tag on the long-stalled project keeps going up, and the delays are getting longer — but developers say they’re still committed to overhauling and reopening the beloved venue, Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 2/8/23
• Congress Theater Chicago Landmark Designation Report, August 2, 2000
• Writing a new chapter for Avalon Regal and Congress theaters; Redevelopment plans for the Congress and Avalon Regal theaters represent a big change in Chicago’s attitude toward its classic old theaters, Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 3/9/22