Crain’s Chicago Business has reported that the property on which the historic Holy Angels School in Bronzeville has stood for more than a century has been put back on the market, potentially saving the building from demolition. A pending construction permit with an application date of November 2, 2023 calls for a four-story, 48-unit residential development on the site, which would lead to the empty structure being demolished.
Holy Angels School is located at 545 East Oakwood Boulevard. It was dedicated on September 1, 1912, and survived a significant fire in 1986, before closing permanently in 2016. The school now occupies the former Oakland School building, built in 1902, one block east at 750 East 40th Street.
Site Map of the Holy Angels School site at 545 East Oakwood Boulevard, via Google Maps
According to the Crain’s report, Oakwood Boulevard Neighbors Association and Preservation Chicago have both been vocal in their efforts to save the building, insisting the structure is solid enough to undergo historic preservation and renovation into residential use, rather than needing to be torn down. Developer Eagle OZ, which purchased the building from the Archdiocese of Chicago, is still interested in redevelopment, even if it means building on the site for a new buyer.
The permit they have on file would include 48 dwelling units in an elevator building, with outdoor spaces including a rooftop deck and balconies on the three upper floors. The Chicago Board of Appeals approved a trio of variations for the site at their March 2024 meeting. Setbacks on the north, south and east sides of the building were reduced from five feet to zero feet. The rear yard open space, which was required to be 1,728 square feet, was eliminated entirely. (The property backs up to the old CTA Kenwood branch elevated tracks; there isn’t much room for a rear yard.) And the one-to-one parking space ratio was reduced to just eight spaces.
The pending construction permit for four stories and 48 units designed by Hanna Architects, via Chicago Data Portal
We now wait and see if the permit on file, along with the granted variations, will still be utilized for a new development, either by Eagle OZ themselves or a new buyer should the site be sold, or if a new developer will take over and apply their own plans to the property.
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Fascinating, among endless empty lots and wooden houses lots in the area they’d find one brick solid structure to demolish. Why? Even from business perspective- unclear to me.
Just because something is vacant doesn’t mean it’s for sale. This is actually a major problem facing Chicago and greater Cook County. A lot of vacant lots are unavailable. The City owns many, but either doesn’t sell them or places significant restrictions on their use (for example, City lots in that area may be only available for affordable housing); a lot may be tax delinquent, but the County hasn’t held a tax sale in a year or two and those processes are riddled with problems; some are held privately with owners who aren’t responsive for inquiries; some are held by tax-exempt or differently-taxed entities who don’t have an interest in selling (IDOT, ComEd, churches, Nicor, RRs, etc.).
A reform to the system of public and utility land management would be very beneficial to the region.
I appt this article and the statement made by Alex and Tina. In fact, old conservation districts like Kenwood and Englewood can be rightfully revisited by the City and HUD to explore more modern approach to land uses relative to historic conservation. Englewood has a host of Historically significant buildings managed by the PBC that should not be permitted for demolition starting with Earle School annex, Moran Park Fieldhouse and Wentworth School. Conservation Matters, Holy Angel building should remain!
The city and its people should do everything possible to keep this building standing and in use.
Don’t tear it down let it be rehabbed for housing.There are so many vacant lots luke Alex said.Put those to good use and stop allowing rich people to buy them.up and sit on them.I bought one lot on my block all the other ones are private owned and they don’t keep them clean or cut,the city gas to do it.
Under no circumstances should this building be torn down. Find the money and restore it.
John E. Adams, CPA
Administrator, Bronzeville State Designated Cultural District
Founder & Executive Director, Bronzeville Trail Task Force, Inc.