Historic Joliet theater needs $500K in repairs

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - Officials say Joliet's historic Rialto Square Theatre needs $500,000 in repairs.

The (Joliet) Herald-News reports (http://bit.ly/2tpTxSF ) that Joe Carlasare will present a to-do list to fellow board members in the coming week.

Carlasare is chairman of the newly formed real estate committee. It met July 13 after a heat pump burst and damaged office space. A leaking cooling tower is on the list too. It will cost $110,000 to replace.

The $500,000 in repair costs is equal to the annual city subsidy that is the theater's primary funding.

Carlasare said the board might need to ask the city for more and seek Will County's help too.

The neo-Baroque style Rialto opened in 1926 as a movie palace.

Joliet is 47 miles (76 km) southwest of Chicago.