Even as some Chicagoans are still coming to grips with the demolition of a vintage church in Ravenswood, another has been slated for demolition and redevelopment. In the Logan Square neighborhood, two demolition permits were issued on October 28 to raze the closed church at 2028 North Richmond Street and its adjoining school building at 2018 North Richmond.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The school building still carries the markings of the Salem Christian School, an entity of New Life Community Church, who is named in the permits as the owners of both structures. The church’s most recent use was by IFGF Chicago, which recently relocated to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1701 North Richmond in Humboldt Park.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The school building at 2018 North Richmond was also permitted for demolition. Photo by Daniel Schell
Four permits await in the Chicago Date Portal to build single-family homes on the site. Addressed as 2903, 2905, 2907, and 2909 West McLean Avenue. The first application shows a date of October 2, two are dated October 9, and the fourth, for 2903, is undated. Initial details indicate all four will be two-stories plus basements, with detached three-car garages accessed from the T-shaped alley off North Richmond. Mar Van Development LLC is named as the developer, with plans created by 360 Design Studio and general contractor duties assigned to V & M Development, Inc.
Stained glass on the south facade of the church. Photo by Daniel Schell
Mural painted on the back of the church next to the playground. Photo by Daniel Schell
2018 (left) and 2028 (right) North Richmond Street. Photo by Daniel Schell
As of October 30, there was no demolition fencing nor any sign of construction equipment on church property. It is not known when demolition will begin, when construction of the new homes will get start, not if they’ll be built concurrently or one at a time.
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Not happy, would have preferred a conversion of the church into some condos. The school can go, but should be replaced by more than two houses. We can see other multi-family buildings in the pictures, so a nice three story building could have replaced the school.
Ugh!
It would probably have been easier (and cheaper) to convert the school to residential than the church.
This neighborhood is uber hot from a R.E. standpoint. A few years ago a friend did a gut rehab of a frame property around the corner and it flew off the rolls at +1 million. So I could see someone with eclectic taste and lots of $ wanting a unique abode in a former church. Alas, from personal experience, conversions from commercial to residential is very pricey and very demanding.
That’s a really big shame! I would have loved to see the church converted into a residential building as we have seen a few other times in the city.
That is a beautiful church. Too bad, wish it would be repurposed instead of demolished.
Demolitions like this are why people hate yimbys
YIMBYs hate this too. It’s not enough housing to justify the demolition.
You’re not wrong, but I’m just speaking more to how demos like these lead to a negative perception of yimbyism from the general public, fairly or unfairly
Being a YIMBY doesn’t mean you support every development no matter what. There’s still bad development even if you’re generally pro-building in one’s leaning.
Good GOD that is a loss.
We all know that total, utter, abysmal crap will replace this. Sad, sad, sad.
Good riddance.
I know church conversions are expensive, but these last two church demolitions (Ravenswood and Logan Square) are in high-demand neighborhoods. A creative developer could easily recapture the cost of conversion with renters/buyers willing to pay a premium for these spaces, especially in Ravenswood and Logan Square. What a loss.
There is no joy is losing the history and architecture, but it seems the church (meaning, the Christian believers), abandoned that building years ago. And even though it’s just a building, I would rather it be torn down than be a constant reminder of Chicago’s slide from Faith.
But we lose the old world craftsmanship forever. By preserving the structure, I would view it as a preservation of that, instead of the loss of something.
Another victim of RS-3 zoning. Despite the proximity to transit and in-demand location, this couldn’t have become anything other than SFH without a prolonged zoning fight.
The “put all the density on arterials and let single family dominate the inner streets” approach that we’ve enabled with our outdated zoning needs to stop. Let people build to meet demand. Otherwise, Logan Square will continue its speed-run towards looking like Lincoln Park and more people will keep getting displaced.
Losing this for 4 single family homes is a crime against the city. This should at minimum be 8 family sized units, & ideally far more. An abject waste of capital.
SFH with 3-car garages, blocks from an el stop. thanks, i hate it.
sad to see a beautiful building demolished for something boring and multi-family to go up when the restoration and revamping of the church could have provided some CREATIVE and beautiful solutions, also for multi-families – and the school bldg, easily replaceable, with something architecturally compatible. the school was unattractive from day 1. tragic.
Chicago is loosing its architectural history. I got pushback from my Ravenswood church demo comments. Alderman do have power to let it be known to developers that demos of high quality craftsmanship architecture in their wards is not acceptable. They can give them a little more FAR or other horse trades.
It doesn’t work that way. Give them FAR where?
FAR zoning, or Floor Area Ratio, is a zoning tool that regulates the intensity of a building’s development by comparing the total gross floor area of a building to the area of the land it sits on. Does this help? Developers commonly work in same areas and Wards. They also frequently need zoning changes = alderman approval. Alderman can screw (Lincoln Yards) or help development. Please respond if you still don’t understand the zoning game.
I know what FAR is and it’s not transferable and to think you’re going to make some kind of deal with an alderman to do so is naive. Alderman: “Save this building and I’ll increase your FAR on your next project no matter what”. You don’t know how this world works.
I worked in city government and you don’t have a clue what goes on under the surface.
The playground equipment looks almost new. Is it possible to get the contact info from the demolition permit to contact them about getting the playground equipment removed before demo? I know of several spaces and schools that would gladly accept it, if it could be coordinated!
The number in the permit for demo contractor Tir Conaill Concrete is (847)720-4853.
Good riddance.
What a shame for this building to get demolished, they should fit the inside and convert it. Ik another church that I use to go to was also converted in to condos, it would be a hell of a lot better. Plus if this is a landmark and the owners got papers they can not touch the structure of the building and just got the inside of the building period.
More history from 1896 being wiped out
I imagine my grandfather knew this church and walked past it many times as he lived in the area
I understand the dollars & cents aspect of the demolition & redevelopment of this property. However IMO the architectural and historical significance being lost somehow seems unwise. Value is not always measured in dollars. And something valuable is being lost when structures like this are demolished. Sadly Americans care less about historical, cultural, and familial significance of such structures than many native American’s care about the sacred grounds of their ancestors.
The solid architectural history of The Chi is being replaced by cracker jack boxes. When dollars replace common sense. So glad that The ideal church is in heaven.
Oh so sad!!! My daughter went to grammar school there.
Being built in 1896 shouldn’t the church have landmark status that would prevent it from being razed?
Chicago is going to be a very sad, ugly place one of these days and it’s because we’re losing what makes this place beautiful and unique. Rather than outrage we’ll just either accept it or are happy more housing is being built. But seriously who’s going to want to live here after we keep tearing down everything that makes it what it is?!