Park Forest economic development director outlines $3.6M remodel versus multi-million-dollar demolition options for downtown theater building

Sandra Zoellner, the Village of Park Forest’s Director of Economic Development, briefed the Board on Feb. 7 about options for the downtown "building two" theater property, which the Village has owned since 2023.

Zoellner said the entire building totals about 46,000 square feet with 15 tenant spaces, of which roughly four are occupied. The property’s assessed value without incentives is $1,278,000, she said. A Cook County technical-assistance study identified an estimated $242,000 in asbestos abatement and $131,000 in mold remediation for the property.

Zoellner presented three broad options. The first would hold much of the building (about 36,000 square feet) and remodel it for reuse at an estimated construction cost of $3,620,000, not including the additional costs to outfit a performance theater (stage, seating, screens and counters). The second was a full demolition that would remove the theater, lobby and adjacent structures including Sierra House, with an estimated cost in excess of $3.1 million. A narrower demolition footprint removing the movie theater and adjacent spaces through the former Wings Galore area was estimated at about $2.2 million.

Zoellner encouraged public input and grant-seeking tied to the Village’s downtown master plan, which was incorporated into the comprehensive plan in 2023 and supports applications for technical assistance and grant funding. Resident Kim Elmore-Perkins suggested creating a fine arts commission or council to guide reuse and help write grant applications; Zoellner called the idea “great” in the meeting record.

The Board heard a list of upcoming grant opportunities mentioned at the meeting, including The Art of Three, the R3 Grant, youth-safety and community infrastructure programs. Zoellner said the remodel estimate did not include interior outfitting specific to a theater or performance venue.

Next steps: the Village has options to pursue further study, grant applications and public engagement; no formal decision on demolition or renovation was recorded at the meeting.