Discussion on demolishing downtown Libertyville theater in intermission

A recommendation regarding the future of an old movie house in downtown Libertyville is in intermission, with the question of whether or how long the Liberty Theatre will survive still unanswered.

Just as unclear is the status of a possible Plan B that could save the 82-year-old building on busy Milwaukee Avenue from demolition. On Oct. 28, the village's historic preservation commission will revisit the matter at a public hearing continued from Monday.

"It's got to be studied a little bit more," commission Chairman Jim Hartshorne said. "There's no plan to put anything there except a piece of grass."

The disposition of the Liberty Theatre was referred to the commission because the building is in a designated historic district. It's the first demolition request to be presented and considered by the advisory group.

The Rhyan family has owned the building for more than 50 years. The requested teardown was made with "great regret", according to a document submitted to the village in August.

The local fixture has been operating as the Liberty 1 & 2 theaters. However, despite three rent cuts, the tenant can't make a go of it, and with nothing else in hand, the best option is to tear it down for green space, the village has been told.

About 40 people attended the initial hearing, which was moved from village hall to the Libertyville Civic Center.

"These people want to save it, but no one wants to support it," Rhyan family representative Tom O'Brien said this week. The family is willing to sell or lease the building under the right circumstances, according to O'Brien.

That would include a five-year lease with the tenant paying real estate taxes, building insurance and maintenance.

"We'd do it in a heartbeat," O'Brien said.

Libertyville resident Kyle Cashman said he once managed the theater and was a projectionist there. He said he is part of a group investigating possibilities to keep the building.

"It's an asset for downtown Libertyville," he said.

Because of alterations, the building doesn't contribute to the architectural character of the district, according to a village report. But the locale has been known to generations of residents and has sentimental and perhaps cultural value.

"Is this building truly insignificant or is it significant in other ways?" said Mike Kollman, a local architect and commission member.

The 1.17-acre property and building was listed for sale as a redevelopment opportunity in 2017 for $3 million.

The commission will make a recommendation on the demolition request to the village board, which has final say.

"I have mixed feelings. I grew up here and I've been to the Liberty Theatre many, many times," Mayor Terry Weppler said. "But you also can't expect a property owner to keep a business open that's losing money."