Group tackling scaled-back plan for Wheaton Grand

Now that a $19.3 million plan to renovate the Wheaton Grand Theater is dead, two big questions still remain:

Is there a cheaper way to revamp and reopen the historic movie house in downtown Wheaton? And are there realistic ways to pay for it?

For the next few months, a small group of city officials, business owners and theater representatives will meet behind closed doors in an effort to develop a proposal that restores the Wheaton Grand without burdening taxpayers.

"I think everybody wants to see the theater restored," said Tim Rater, executive director of the Grand Theater Corp. "It's just how can we can get to an acceptable concept and model that is comfortable for everybody?"

The eight-person theater steering committee met for the first time on Friday. Panel members include city councilmen John Prendiville and Phil Suess, park district Commissioner Ray Morrill and Derek Bromstead, vice president of the Downtown Wheaton Association's board of directors.

Mayor Michael Gresk said he hopes the group can make a recommendation to the city council within two or three months.

"We've got eight pretty sharp people working on this," Gresk said. "If they can pull it together, fine. At least they will have something, and we can move from there."

The theater's fate has been in limbo since Wheaton park board members last month scrapped a plan to borrow $19.3 million to renovate the Hale Street building.

Prendiville said the steering committee will examine a $10 million alternative plan that would reopen the Wheaton Grand as an 860-seat venue.

"Some of our goals are to determine whether there's a viable business plan for a theater that size," Prendiville said. "We also need to find out any other facts relating to the theater's operation, as well as any current debts associated with it."

Once the committee comes up with a renovation price tag, they will need to figure out how to pay for it.

"The key issue is at what cost?" Gresk said. "And not just dollars, but who's going to pay those dollars?"

Park officials have said they are willing to consider alternatives. City council members stress that they don't want the project to put public money at risk.

One way the city could avoid dipping into its general fund for the payments is by taxing ticket sales at the Wheaton Grand. Another possibility is a food and beverage tax.

Councilman Todd Scalzo recently suggested the committee explore fundraising opportunities, including private donations and corporate sponsorships.

Prendiville said the panel will look at everything. And while the coming months will be challenging for himself and other committee members, he said he believes the theater is worth the effort.

"Everybody wants a theater," Prendiville said. "They want a place to be able to go downtown because they want to support the city."