Initial details have been revealed for the redevelopment of Olivet Baptist Church, located at 3101 S King Drive in Bronzeville. Situated at the corner of East 31st Street, the historic church was recently in the news for being listed on Preservation Chicago’s 2025 Most Endangered list. However, earlier this week, the church announced its own plans for the site as part of its 175th anniversary celebration.
Site context map of Trinity Square via Google Maps
Olivet Baptist Church dates back to the 1850s, with the current building constructed in 1918. By the 1920s, it had become the largest African American congregation in the country, with its pastors playing roles in the Civil Rights Movement. In recent years, however, attendance has declined to around 100 active members—a challenge faced by many urban congregations.
Olivet Baptist Church via Preservation Chicago
In response to changing times and in an effort to continue serving the community, the church has unveiled plans for a new development called Trinity Square. The proposal would redevelop the large rear parking lot and adjacent school building into a mixed-use project featuring a residential tower and a community center. According to renderings, the tower could rise approximately 29 stories and reach a height of 350 feet, though final figures have yet to be confirmed.
Rendering of Trinity Square via Olivet Baptist Church
The development includes a four- to five-story podium that would wrap around the existing church. This podium would house new spaces for the congregation, along with a daycare center, food pantry, workforce development incubator, and a health and wellness clinic, according to the Sun-Times. While not officially confirmed, it is likely the base will also include parking for both church members and residents.
Rendering of Trinity Square via Olivet Baptist Church
Rising above the podium, the glass-clad tower would contain 366 residential units. Of these, 20 percent would be market-rate, while the remaining 80 percent would be designated as affordable housing. The church has stated that some units will be reserved for individuals with little to no income, with the rest offered for varying income levels. Residents will have access to multiple amenities, including a rooftop deck.
Rendering of Trinity Square via Olivet Baptist Church
The estimated cost of the Trinity Square project is around $157 million. The church is partnering with Crossing Capital Group to secure funding and identify development partners. It is unclear if the project will seek state or city funding and cover the cost of long-term stabilized affordable housing. though the church hopes revenue from market-rate units will help make the project financially viable.
Before moving forward, the proposal will need support from the local community and approval from the city. As of now, no timeline has been announced. A video on the church’s history and vision can be found here.
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Really excited for this one, hopefully the project will go successfully!
I’ll second this! And this is a fantastic way of ensuring the church continues to serve the neighborhood well in a very creative way. And a mostly active and tasteful podium, developers take note of this one. More of this please, a lot more. It shows the potential that every auto-oriented parking podium foregoes by providing a single-use “amenity.” Bravo to the developer and the community behind this project!
There’s something sort of like this in NYC. Not 100% the same, but they kept the church by selling the air rights and put up the building several decades ago. Pretty cool and I agree this is a cool project!
With 80% of units designated as “affordable”, this is not happening.
What made up this site way before the doings of urban renewal? I’m curious of a church from the 19th century became an island.
Hey Drew!
Let me do some research and get back to you, I wondered that as well while I was writing the piece.
I think this was where the POW camp was during the civil war
Hey Ian, maybe for a follow up or for a Chicago series on this topic – could you do these historical look backs? I’d honestly pay or donate to YIMBY causes if the site provided that kind of thing
Curious how*
(One day they’ll add an edit button…)
I’ll pass the request along 😉
Ha ha. That reads different with “how” instead of “of”. Like the church was up to no good and you were curious of it.
That church is an eyesore. It should be torn down.
That is certainly an opinion
You ok, Shaun?