The Congress Theater: it’s the venue that Chicago’s EDM fans love to hate. From the staff to the sticky floors to the sucky sound system, we’ve been through it all more times than we might want to admit.
At 11 AM Thursday morning, city attorneys will act on an emergency motion to seek an immediate injunction against the owner of the Congress Theater, Erineo “Eddie” Carranza. His inability to recognize the many Buildings, Fire, and Health department codes that the Congress breaks has resulted in the biggest move against a concert venue that the city has ever seen. Apparently the Congress is in even worse shape than meets the concertgoer’s eye. Take a look at just some of the issues highlighted by the city:
The ventilation system above the stage block specifically designed to vent flames and smoke in case of a fire is totally disabled. This condition poses an extremely dangerous hazard as the flames and smoke will back draft into the occupied auditorium putting all patrons at risk.
The existing toilet rooms are insufficient for current capacity.
Yeah, no sh*t.
There are no carbon monoxide detectors.
Management or owner contact information on building is missing from the premises.
I’d want my name hidden, too.
Ventilation system is inoperable; vents have been blocked and sealed. There is no fresh air supply to patrons, nor is there any exhaust of polluted air from the theater.
Check out the full list of offenses if you’re really curious about the risk you face by walking into this place in its current state.
Hint: they have to use the whole alphabet to enumerate the Congress’ violations.
The results of tomorrow’s hearing could cause the cancellation of upcoming shows, a lost liquor license, and “police…power to force him from the premises if [Carranza] doesn’t willingly vacate immediately.”
Chicago, what do you think? Are the “hazardous and dangerous conditions” of the Congress worth fixing? Or would the Congress Theater be better if it were boarded up? No matter the outcome, it’s clear that Chicago’s music fans deserve something better than this.
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