Residents Want Art Center at Deerbrook

An arts center is the preferred use of the shuttered theaters at the rear of the by more than half the readers who responded to the latest unscientific Patch Poll gauging interest in such a project.

Of the 137 people who answered Patch’s questions, 83 want to see some kind of art center in the space while 54 would rather see the . Of the 83 who want the art center, 20 would be willing to pay additional taxes but the other 63 want private financing.

One reader, Larry Mason, thinks examples set in places like Highland Park, Skokie and Highwood are ones Deerfield could follow.

“Deerfield has a long tradition of innovative, high quality fine arts programming, including the outstanding work of Deerfield Family Theatre and Theatre D,” Mason writes. “A revitalized performing arts center would be an excellent addition to our community.”

Amy Parker takes the opposite view disparaging the location at the rear of the shopping center. She is wary of doing something with the current theaters.

“In its present configuration, that theater space has zero appeal, which goes a long way toward explaining its demise,” Parker writes. “The backside of the mall? Yuck. Whatever you do there, if it isn't attractive and pedestrian-friendly, it's a dead duck.”

Jeff Lyon worries an art center will not generate tax revenue for the Village. “If the goal is to increase sales and property taxes, why burden the center with a use that may generate neither,” he writes?

Mason disagrees seeing potential revenue for Deerfield. Like they are in other communities, he thinks they would be “big draws and sales tax revenue generators” here.