By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Developers have submitted their proposal for a $3 million state grant to help restore the Times Theater after gathering more than 1,200 signatures in support of the project.
GT Partners, a subsidiary of Joseph James Partners, sent its submission on Monday to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets program.
The company announced its plans to apply for the funding and redevelop the theater during a news conference Dec. 20, and it launched a change.org petition to gather support from the community. About 1,240 people have signed the petition so far.
Related: Nostalgic acts, comedy, cabaret: Here’s the vision for a reborn Times Theater in Rockford
“On behalf of our team at JJP and local leaders who have offered their support, we are grateful to everyone who signed our petition and for all the positive comments we’ve received about this important community redevelopment project,” Peter Provenzano, president and CEO of Joseph James Partners, said in a news release. “We also thank the many local leaders for their letters of support and commitments. The tremendous outpouring of support from citizens and leadership clearly demonstrates the passion and support our community has for this project.”
Provenzano’s company plans to rehabilitate the theater into a multiuse entertainment venue with 650 to 900 seats as well as additional, flexible space. It is intended to fill a gap in the city’s downtown for a mid-sized entertainment venue that could host local and touring bands, comedy acts and other entertainment.
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The theater was built in 1938 and has sat vacant for about two decades. Reviving it is expected to cost $15 million, and developers are short roughly $4.1 million on the funding needed to make it happen.
You can still sign the petition, “Bringing Back the Good Times – Times Theater Restoration,” here or at restorethetimes.com.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.