Cook County recognizes 100th anniversary of Des Plaines Theatre and its recent preservation
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Summary
The Cook County Board commended the Des Plaines Theatre on its centennial and noted Ron Onesti’s 2021 acquisition and renovation kept the venue from conversion to a bank; the recognition was ceremonial and no county funding action is recorded in the transcript.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners presented a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Des Plaines Theatre and praised recent preservation efforts that returned the venue to community use.
Commissioner Kevin Morrison introduced the recognition and noted that in the late 2010s proposals had threatened the theatre’s survival by converting it to non‑theater use. He said that in 2021 Ron Onesti, in partnership with the Village of Des Plaines, acquired and renovated the theatre to restore its historic character and preserve it as a community performance space. Morrison said the reopening preserved a community asset used for live performances and cultural events.
Ron Onesti and Village of Des Plaines leaders attended the meeting and joined commissioners for a photo. Commissioner Trevor also praised the preservation work and urged continued support for historic downtown assets.
Discussion type: ceremonial recognition and local historic preservation acknowledgment. Direction/assignment: none recorded. Formal action: recognition presented; no budget or policy change recorded in the transcript.
Ending: The resolution acknowledged local preservation efforts that returned the Des Plaines Theatre to active community use; the transcript records a ceremonial recognition and photographs but no county funding decisions.