A major renovation of the Congress Theater in Logan Square is set to begin in March, following the city’s approval of a $25 million loan. The theater, located at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., has been closed for more than ten years and is expected to reopen by December 2027.
Alderman Daniel La Spata (1st) told Block Club that recent passage of key city ordinances allows the project to move forward. This includes an amended redevelopment agreement for a U.S. Housing and Urban Development Section 108 Loan, which will serve as a substitute for a traditional construction loan.
The city applied for this federal loan on behalf of developer Baum Revision. According to Jeffrey Cohen, deputy commissioner with the planning department, all costs and fees tied to the loan will be paid by Baum Revision over a 20-year period.
As part of the application process, officials held a public hearing, collected feedback from residents, and required City Council approval before submitting materials to the federal government.
This is the third time city leaders have committed public funds toward restoring the historic theater. “We’re officially full speed ahead,” La Spata said.
The total cost for reviving the theater is estimated at $88 million. Once complete, plans call for 16 units of affordable housing and 13,000 square feet of commercial space designed for local businesses, arts organizations, and nonprofits.
“I have walked past that space with my daughter since she was born, and I really look forward to seeing the kinds of businesses that come into all of those spaces,” La Spata said. “If we can do this for a venue the size of the Congress with large international ownership, I think we should be finding ways to invest more in infrastructure and operations needs of our independent venues as well.”
La Spata noted that he previously worked with Baum Revision as a community organizer two decades ago on redeveloping another neighborhood property—the former Frederick Cooper Lamp Co.—into what is now known as the Green Exchange.
“I know that it’s very important to our neighbors. … I remember being in community meetings about this project even prior to running for office,” said La Spata, who has served as alderman since 2019. “When we look at holistic community development projects, I think this is what we’re trying to accomplish.”
The Congress Theater was built in 1926 by Fridstein & Co., originally serving as one of several “moving picture theaters” operated by Lubliner & Trinz before later becoming a music venue. It fell into disrepair under previous owner Eddie Carranza and was shut down by city authorities in 2013 due to code violations after Carranza defaulted on a $4 million loan.
