After more than a decade of sitting vacant, plans are once again moving forward for the long-awaited redevelopment of the Congress Theater at 2135 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. Located at the prominent corner of North Rockwell Street, the historic structure dates back to 1926 and has remained closed since 2013 due to extensive building code violations.
The redevelopment effort is being led by Baum Revision in partnership with AEG Presents, with design services provided by local firm Woodhouse Tinucci Architects. The project carries an estimated price tag of $88 million and is being supported through a combination of city-approved Tax Increment Financing, historic tax credits, and a proposed $25 million loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If fully financed, the project will mark one of the most significant adaptive reuse and historic preservation construction efforts in Logan Square in recent years.
Project Scope and Building Restoration
At the core of the project is the restoration of the original 3,500-seat theater into a modern event venue. The design strategy centers on preserving the building’s historic character while upgrading all structural, mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems to meet current codes and operational standards.
Chicago Yimby reports that the scope includes extensive repairs to the exterior façade, marquee, storefronts, and ornamental architectural features. Interior work will focus on rehabilitating the main auditorium, back-of-house performance spaces, circulation areas, and support infrastructure for live entertainment.
From a construction standpoint, this type of project involves a careful balance between demolition, stabilization, and restoration. Much of the original building fabric will require structural reinforcement, moisture remediation, and fire protection upgrades, particularly given the building’s long period of vacancy.
Retail and Street-Level Activation
One of the defining elements of the redevelopment is the creation of approximately 13,000 square feet of retail space within the building’s original commercial street frontage. This portion of the project is intended to reestablish active ground-floor uses along Milwaukee Avenue, reinforcing pedestrian activity and local economic growth.
Under the city’s financing requirements, 75 percent of this retail space must remain continuously occupied and leased to locally owned businesses, community organizations, or local artists at affordable rates. This condition directly influences tenant layout, mechanical zoning, and long-term building operations.
For contractors, this means delivering flexible retail shells with adaptable utility connections, storefront glazing systems, and durable finishes that can accommodate a wide range of small business uses.
Affordable Housing Integration
Beyond the public-facing components, the redevelopment also includes the rehabilitation of the building’s original residential units on the upper floors. These spaces will be converted into 16 affordable apartments, providing much-needed housing within a transit-rich and amenity-heavy neighborhood.
Integrating residential units into a historic entertainment venue adds a layer of technical complexity. Building systems must provide acoustic separation between performance spaces and living areas, along with dedicated vertical circulation, secure access controls, and modern residential fire safety standards.
This mixed-use configuration requires close coordination between architectural, structural, and mechanical teams throughout design and construction.
Code Compliance and Building Systems
The Congress Theater closed originally due to serious code deficiencies, making life safety upgrades one of the most critical aspects of the redevelopment. The project will involve comprehensive improvements to:
-
Fire suppression and alarm systems
-
Emergency egress routes and stairwells
-
Structural load capacity
-
Electrical distribution and backup power
-
Mechanical ventilation and smoke control
Given the building’s age, much of the existing infrastructure will need to be removed and replaced, while carefully preserving historically significant architectural elements.
Workforce and Construction Impact
Projects of this scale and technical complexity typically support hundreds of construction jobs across multiple trades over several years. Historic preservation projects also require specialized craftsmanship, particularly in masonry restoration, ornamental detailing, and structural retrofitting.
Once operational, the restored venue is expected to generate permanent employment across hospitality, operations, maintenance, and event management, adding to Logan Square’s cultural and economic ecosystem.
Construction Trades Involved
The Congress Theater redevelopment is expected to involve a wide range of construction trades, including:
-
Selective demolition and structural stabilization crews
-
Concrete repair and structural reinforcement trades
-
Historic masonry restoration specialists
-
Steel fabricators and miscellaneous metals installers
-
Mechanical contractors for HVAC and smoke control systems
-
Electrical contractors and low-voltage systems specialists
-
Plumbing and fire protection trades
-
Elevator and vertical transportation installers
-
Interior framing, drywall, and acoustic systems
-
Finish carpentry, millwork, and ornamental restoration
-
Roofing and building envelope contractors
Timeline and Next Steps
The last publicly discussed timeline anticipated a groundbreaking in 2025 and an opening by December 2026. That schedule has since shifted, and a new construction start date has not yet been announced.
Before work can proceed, final financing must be secured, including approval of the proposed HUD loan. Once funding is in place, the project can move into permitting, contractor procurement, and phased construction.
A Landmark on the Path to Renewal
The Congress Theater redevelopment represents a major opportunity to restore one of Logan Square’s most iconic structures while delivering a modern cultural venue, affordable housing, and street-level retail.
For the construction industry, the project highlights the growing importance of adaptive reuse and historic rehabilitation as cities seek to revitalize aging urban assets rather than build entirely new ones.
If completed as planned, the restored Congress Theater will once again become a centerpiece of Milwaukee Avenue, blending heritage architecture with contemporary building systems and serving as a long-term anchor for arts, culture, and community life in Chicago.
