A Schaumburg-based children’s theater group is seeking city permission to transform the old Elks Lodge in downtown Elgin into a performing arts venue to be called The Elgin Playhouse Theater.
Plans for a three-phase renovation of the 1927 Tudor Revival building at Village Court and DuPage Street were presented Monday to the Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission, which voted to recommend Elgin City Council approval for the project.
Schaumburg on Stage and MTK Properties want to create a performing arts theater and commercial event space by expanding the vacant building to 17,160 square feet, Senior Planner Damir Latinovic told commissioners.
In the first phase of construction, the building’s interior would be reconfigured to create a performance theater with seating for up to 138 patrons, Latinovic said.
After that, they would add 3,164 square feet to the north side, expanding theater seating to 290, he said. The addition would complement the existing architecture style.
The final phase calls for an interior renovation of the ground floor, creating a speakeasy-style lounge/restaurant with a full bar, commercial kitchen and seating for up to 60 people, Latinovic said.
Schaumburg on Stage would have a permanent residency at the theater, Executive Director Mary Alice Benoit said.
“We have been specializing in youth theater for 25 years primarily in the Schaumburg area but have made a presence in Elgin beginning about five years ago utilizing on several occasions The Hemmens (Cultural) Arts Center as well as the Elgin Arts Showcase,” Benoit said.
Schaumburg on Stage has had its eye on the building for a while and looks “forward to being able to renovate it and becom(ing) a vital part of the Elgin business community,” she said.
The theater would be used for a variety of theatrical performances that would be presented weekly, and MTK will rent the space out for other types of events, such as conferences, weddings, concerts and other live entertainment, Latinovic said.
MTK plans to use off-site caterers and servers to provide food and alcoholic beverages. They will be applying for a liquor license, representatives said.
The property is currently owned by DC Enterprises of Illinois and is located in the Center City District, surrounded by mixed-use buildings with commercial businesses on the ground floor and residences or offices on the upper floors.
Two years ago, the owners of Imago — the event venue that lost its historic building to a roof collapse earlier in 2021 — announced plans to purchase the building as its new location and to sink $650,000 into its renovation.
At the time, they said it would also be the new location for the city’s Elgin Art Showcase. The city agreed to a five year lease and to providing $50,000 in Tax Increment Financing money to help pay for ADA improvements.
However, Mark and Aimee Novelli ultimately did not proceed with the project.
A message on Imago’s website says, “After a year-long process, we have yet to find the right investment. So, we are taking some time to pause and discern our next steps. We love the community of Elgin and have thoroughly enjoyed serving our clients.”
The building, which features multiple steeple-pitched roof gables and a prominent chimney, cost about $100,000 was constructed for the Elgin chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which was established in 1902, according to historicelgin.com.
It was used as their lodge for 70 years. In 2004, it was converted for office use in 2004 and now is currently unoccupied.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.