A permit was issued on May 15 to convert the former St. Cornelius Church building at 5430 West Foster Avenue in Jefferson Park into an indoor pickleball facility. Dink Enterprises of Park Ridge, IL is the recipient of the permit, which shows a reported construction cost of $1.5 million. Edward Torrez of Arda Design is named as the architect of record, with Vero Design Build LLC handling general contractor duties.
The cross-shaped structure of the former St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Jefferson Park, via Google Maps
The Mid-Century Modern church opened upon its dedication in 1965. Its final mass was held in 2020, and the congregation was merged into the new parish of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. It was put up for sale after the Archdiocese of Chicago relegated the building to “profane, non-sordid use” in November 2021, a harsh-sounding but official phrasing from Catholic canon law, meaning the building is no longer reserved for sacred purposes and can be used for secular, non-sacrilegious activities.The building was purchased by Dink Enterprises last year for $1.35 million, per real estate records.
You can read the declaration from the Archdiocese here.
It is unclear if the new pickleball facility will be public or private.
SIte context of 5430 West Foster Avenue, via Google Maps
From Gettysburg Street, which runs behind the former church. Image via Google Street View
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
I wonder if Leo XIV plays pickleball.
An unusual conversion for sure. It’ll be interesting to see how this progresses.
Damn nice building from the pictures, at least, for a $1.3mil. Keep us posted of the reno budget when the permits are issued please…