Initial details have been revealed for the residential conversion of the Our Lady Lourdes School at 4641 N Ashland Avenue in Uptown. Located just south of the intersection with W Leland Avenue across the street from the namesake church, the project is the second for the previous church buildings. Developed by Honore Properties, the school served the local community for over 50-years before closing in 2004.
Site context map of Lourdes School via Google Maps
Our Lady Loudres has been a staple of the Uptown community since its first service in 1892 and in 1916 hired Henry Worthmann and J.G. Steinbach to design their new church building. After the expansion of Ashland which led to the church being moved and rotated, it also expanded with the convent and school in the 1930’s across the street. Now the school will welcome in residents according to a post from Uptown Update.
Image of Our Lady Lourdes church building move across Ashland via Chicago Catholic
The three-story masonry building is anchored by the intricate white stone entrance with multiple decorative bands across the facade. This will be restored along with all of its windows as it is currently being gutted for the conversion of the over 20,000 square-feet of space inside. These will become 42-residential units though a unit make-up is unknown, nine-of these will need to be considered affordable as well.
Image of Lourdes School via Uptown Update
The 21,000 square-foot parking lot directly to the north of it will continue to be used for the future residents, however the developers have expressed it may be redeveloped into one or two new residential buildings in the future. This will also complement the ongoing redevelopment of the church’s convent next door at 4637 N Ashland Avenue into 14-residential units. Currently a completion timeline is unknown, but we can expect work to be completed some time next year.
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It’s got a magnificent central hall that’s all marble, I hope they retain it.