Hi-Lite Drive In

[title1parent]

I thought I would throw this out on the board. I just read yesterday in the paper that the future of the Drive In is up in the air. Nova 8 theaters had bought it last year. There is an issue with the deed to the land, and the city is involved. They are hoping to keep it open and Nova 8 is going to do some improvements to the refreshment building and resurfacing the car lot.

If you have never gone to the drive in, you have to go over the summer with your family. It is an awesome time. 2 movies for the price of one. ;D

[jenrik2714]

I hope it stays open..I went there a few years back...I was 8 months pregnant and sitting was uncomfortable

Other than the mosquitos, it was a pleasant experience.

It is a good price!

[jenrik2714]

I could sit at any show...
Sorry---

[Avenging Eagle]

We also like to go to the Hi-Lite drive in from time to time.

One interesting fact......I heard that it was previously known as the "dirty 30", because it is on route 30, and for some stupid reason they were showing X rated movies there. Luckily those owners were run out of town.

Here are its 2 most interesting features:

The concession stand is in a former grade school or administrative building, so when you buy your popcorn and drinks, you feel like you are back in a school lunch line.

In between movies, they play the retro-movie where the hot dog does tricks and jumps into the bun, and there are dancing candy bars and soda cups. The kids love that movie.

[gatormom]

I can't help but think of going to the drive-in growing up. Family of 6 kids. Every time we went, I had to memorize my "birth date" so the family could afford it.

Blankets, pillows, popcorn under the seats . . .

Good memories. I would hate to see it close.

[gatormom]

Aurora discusses future of Hi-Lite 30
Beacon

By Andre Salles
Staff Writer

AURORA — Faced with conflicting numbers and impassioned arguments on both sides, the city's Planning and Development Committee decided to hold off Thursday on deciding the fate of the Hi-Lite 30 drive-in.

The Hi-Lite has been operating on the northeast corner of Hill Avenue and Montgomery Road for nearly six decades, the last 10 years under the guidance of Nova Cinetech Inc.

Now, Bigelow Homes has purchased the land, and plans to develop nearly 240 homes on the site. Under the terms of the annexation agreement signed last fall, the city must decide what to do with the drive-in — keep it operating or give the land to Bigelow to develop.

Until a solution is reached, the Hi-Lite, usually open by this time of year, will remain dark.

For Bob Vaughan, Mayor Tom Weisner's chief of staff, it comes down to numbers. Vaughan says he's sympathetic to those who will miss the Hi-Lite, but the benefit to the school district from a commercial development is just too great to pass up.

Vaughan presented numbers showing that, with a $25 million commercial development on the site, the East Aurora School District would receive $306,000 per year. If the city were to assume ownership of the property and lease it to Nova for $1 per year, as that company has suggested, the district would receive virtually nothing.

"Nostalgia doesn't pay bills," Vaughan said.

Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, 3rd Ward, argued passionately for the drive-in and presented her own contradictory numbers. She said the Hi-Lite also offers social and economic benefits — essentially, something for children and their families to do together, for little money.

Nova Cinetech President Buck Kolkmeyer has been fighting for the survival of the Hi-Lite since the sale was announced. He and his team have started a Website — www.hilitedrivein.com — and have collected signatures from customers in other Nova theaters.

Kolkmeyer's proposal to the city involves making capital improvements to the site in lieu of rent. He would spend $30,000 a year for 10 years to renovate the Hi-Lite, the grounds and the adjacent indoor theater.

Kolkmeyer said that, if the city approves his plan, he can be operating within two weeks.

"This business has been profitable every year we've operated it," he said. "This isn't a bail-me-out situation; it's a viable ongoing business. I'm willing to do whatever I can to keep the drive-in alive."

Bigelow Homes has presented the city with two plans — one with the drive-in and one with a commercial development instead. According to attorney John Philipchuck, the developer has no preference.

[bob]

Is this in our district?

[jenrik2714]

No, it is in the East Aurora School district

[momto4]

Now is the time to do something if you want to help save the drive-in.

Here are some links to information -
openline.blogspot.com/
hilitedrivein.com/
www.ouraurora.com/do/home

Alderman Stephanie Kifowit [e-mail] has a petition available and is inviting people to come to next Tuesday's City Council meeting to speak up about this.

It seems that the people in power are leaning toward getting rid of the drive-in and they need to see that area residents support keeping the drive-in rather than having more houses and/or strip malls.

[mommygator]

I just received this email from our 8th ward alderman:

Christie-

I agree it is a good thing, but unfortunately the drive-in doesn't have any
private investors and I don't think the drive-in is a city function.

Thanks,
Chris

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 12:02 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Hi Lite Drive In

Chris,

Just wanted to let you know that our family enjoys the Drive-In and would
prefer
to see it saved. It would be disappointing to lose this family-fun business
and
its historical value from our community. Whatever you can do to help save
it
would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[jenrik2714]

I read that alderman CB doesn't support the drive in. Everyone should check out openline.blogspot.com/.

Excerpts from openline.blogspot.com. DISCLAIMER: This is not my opinion, just sharing info from this website. I want to keep the drive in.

Aurora's 8th Ward Alderman Chris Beykirch, who's been agitated about the Fox Valley Park District not mowing some areas, said to the local fishwrap regarding the situation about mowing:

"...the people need to be consulted."

We actually agree with Mr. Beykrich "the people" DO need to be consulted AND respected, but not just in his ward when it comes to mowing some areas that border a few subdivisions. We think consultation was necessary when it came to the irresponsible tax increases by Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner that Mr. Beykirch supported. We also think if he would have "consulted" with the people around the old Copley Hospital, there's no way possible for him to have justified the deplorable condition there, including standing water that was less than "expected."

But the biggest test for Chris Beykirch is coming Tuesday, June 13th at 6pm. That's when we will see if he cares about "the people" or sides with Weisner and his cronies. We hope between now and then, he consults with the people of all of Aurora and helps FIND A SOLUTION that saves the drive-in, provides an opportunity for new solutions after the last one was sabotaged, stops the scam of fake tax revenue numbers for a mysterious commercial development and keeps Weisner out of the situation due to the conflict of interests.

Help Chris Beykirch see the light and "consult with the people." Email him at [e-mail] or leave a message for him at the Alderman's Office at 630-844-3619.



RALLY TO SAVE THE DRIVE-IN THEATER
Tue, June 13th at 5pm, Council Meeting at 6pm
Aurora's City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place

[momto4]

Ok, after hearing what CB has to say about it, and what LE says below I am worried that there is not much we can do. The people who moved into the area near there knew there was a drive-in there, they should not be pushing for this entertainment venue to be taken away from everyone. The property never was on the East Aurora School District tax rolls to start with so it is not "lost revenue." It has never cost hundreds of thousands to be put into operation any other summer and wouldn't this year either. The revenue amounts are definitely in dispute and I'm curious whether this increase in taxes might decrease the large amount of $$ the state puts into the district each year.

"This is not a simple matter of choosing a drive-in over commercial development. The drive-in property was just annexed into the city by the current developer and to bring it up to code is a costly proposition. The city's estimate is between $800,000 and $1,400,000. This property has been neglected for sometime. It is difficult to have you or any other tax-payer foot that kind of bill to save an entertainment venue. There have been discussions with a few interested investors to see if a private entity would invest monies in the drive-in and, of course, run the enterprise afterwards.

It might also interest you to know that there is a large group of citizens who live in the school district where the drive-in is located that are opposed to saving it. They believe that more taxes can be raised from using the property for commercial development and this would directly impact their schools.

I have hoped for a good compromise that would save the theater and will see what is brought to the council next week. Thank you for your interest."

[jenrik2714]

According to the blog website, Bigelow homes donated to Aurora's Mayor Weisner's campaign

[EagleDad]

I'm a little torn on this one myself. I grew up near a drive-in and they are a rare breed these days. I have fond memories of going with my family, when I was a kid. I was hoping to take my kids this year, they are that age.

The economist/free market fan in me says the drive-in should survive on it's own (not $1/year lease for the land). They should buy the land at reasonable value and run it as a profitable business.

The homeowner in me says it's great as long as "NIMBY" (not in my back yard). I can sympathize with those that live next to/near it. Also, it should be kept immaculate, none of this growing hay on the corner junk. Drive-ins have an image perception issue to overcome and should work hard to be a clean, well-kept, family friendly place. I have driven by the Hi-Lite in the past (not this year) and thought "man this place needs some work".

I do think the tax revenue issue is artifical at best and should not have been used as the primary reason to re-zone to residential (aren't we against that same thing in 204?)

All in all, I'd prefer to see it stay, but there needs to be some $$$ paid for the land, and a plan to bring it back to good condition. I'd love to see a place where I'd be proud to go and bring my family, from my childhood, to relive old times, as well as take my kids.

An ill-maintained, low-rent shabby "hay field" subsidised by my tax dollars, I'm not interested in, however.

[wvhsparent]

Sounds like Bigelow has made an offer that would be very hard to refuse. As much as I would like to see it saved, you have to admit is currently in pretty bad shape.

New deal offered for Hi-Lite 30 land
By Amy Boerema
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, June 09, 2006

Days before Aurora city councilmen decide whether to save and renovate the state’s oldest drive-in theater or demolish it in favor of new development, another deal has been put on the table.

Aurora developer Bigelow Homes, which last year bought the Hi-Lite 30 Drive-in theater land and its surrounding area, has offered to donate an 8-acre parcel east of the drive-in to East Aurora School District 131.

The theater, at Hill Avenue and Montgomery Road, would then be demolished and the land used for a larger, 250-home development.

Bigelow originally offered to donate the 9-acre theater site to the city as part of its land-cash contribution, and the city would operate it. The drive-in hasn’t opened this year.

But Mayor Tom Weisner said bringing the deteriorating drive-in up to city code would cost at least $830,000. And the site’s indoor theater needs about $1.4 million worth of work, he said.

If the facility were razed, commercial development could mean more tax dollars for the cash-strapped school district, he said.

The issue has become one of the city’s most controversial. Hundreds of residents signed petitions and rallied outside city hall in support of saving the drive-in.

At the last city council meeting, a smaller group of District 131 supporters from Bigelow’s Home Town neighborhood, which is just east of the proposed 250-home development, came out in favor of demolishing it.

Now Bigelow is offering to donate land estimated at $1.3 million on Montgomery Road east of Hill Avenue to the district, which could hold on to the property or use it to buy land for a future school.

The offer makes the issue more clear-cut, Weisner said. City officials will vote on it at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, 44 E. Downer Place.

“What’s the greater benefit to the community?” he said. “In one case, it would cost taxpayers a considerable amount of money (for renovation). In the other case, it would create revenues for the district.”

Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, who represents the ward where the Hi-Lite’s located, called the plan a “last-ditch effort” to close the drive-in.

However, in light of it, if the majority of her residents, who are in District 131, decide they like the offer, she’ll change her stance, she said.

“It’s about representing the residents,” she said.

Weisner said the city and Bigelow have been in talks about the deal for awhile.

“This isn’t last-minute anything,” he said. “This is a major donation by the developer, and the fact that he pondered it for a while is understandable.”

City leaders say it’s a generous deal, as Bigelow is required to give the school district only about $240,000 in either a land or cash donation, roughly one-fifth the offer now on the table.

Weisner said he’s eager to put the controversy to rest.

“We have a lot of critical issues facing us,” he said. “I think it would be good for this to be decided and done with.”

[e-mail]




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