Historic former theater's restoration for live events, movies wins initial city approval
The Villa Theater, previously known as the Ritz Theater, 3608 W. Villard Ave., would feature a restored single-screen cinema as well as space for live productions, upper-level office space, renovated apartments, and food service space on the main level.
The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee at its July 28 meeting recommended selling the city-owned building to Lincoln Creek Development LLC, owned and managed by Thomas Matthews.
Lincoln Creek Development is to buy the the two-story, 7,200-square-foot former theater, a two-story, 3,612-square-foot adjacent commercial building at 3614-16 W. Villard Ave., and a neighboring 24-space parking lot at 5221 N. 36th St.
The proposed sale price is $10,125 − which the council is to review at its July 31 meeting. The city acquired the properties through tax foreclosure.
Lincoln Creek has raised more than 75% of the financing needed for the $4 million project, Matthews said.
Financing sources include Spring Bank, Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corp., and Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution, based in Lake Forest, California, a Department of City Development report said.
Matthews told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel his goal is to complete his financing package and begin renovations by November, with the project finished by spring 2026.
The theater was built in 1926, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. It closed in 1995 and was later used by Agape school.
Matthews told committee members he's been working on the project since 2022 − when he drove past the shuttered theater and was struck by its status.
"It was a sadness to see history deteriorate," Matthews said.
The redeveloped theater is on a stretch of West Villard Avenue, between North Sherman Boulevard and North Teutonia Avenue, that's to be reconstructed to include protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, a pedestrian plaza and other features to improve safety − and spur commercial development.
The zoning committee also recommended the $1,000 sale of a one-story, 2,880-square-foot building, at 4124 W. Villard Ave., to neighboring Corner Stone Memorial Funeral Services LLC.
Corner Stone plans to expand its operations into that building, with its renovation costs estimated at $683,630.
Both projects are supported by Alderwoman Andrea Pratt, whose district includes the development sites.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Bluesky, X and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Theater's restoration for live events, movies wins Milwaukee's OK
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