Permits have now been secured for all four single-family residences to be built on the site of the vacant church and school on North Richmond Street in Logan Square. Both of those structures are now being demolished ahead of the lot’s redevelopment.
2903 West McLean Avenue arrived first, on November 13. The following week, 2909 West McLean received its new-build permission on the 19th, with 2905 and 2907 coming one day later. The permits are all identical, calling for two stories plus a basement and detached two-car garages. The garages will have rooftop decks, while the homes have decks at the rear. Ornamental iron fencing will separate each residence from the street, and wood fencing will surround the rear of the lots. Each permit comes with a reported cost of $903,000. 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.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Surely someone will claim the bell. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
An excavator reaches outside from inside the church. Photo by Daniel Schell
This was the school building. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
As of Thanksgiving Week, the school building has been knocked flat, though some perimeter walls are still standing. Mostly though, it’s a giant pile of rubble. Most of the church building’s roof is gone, with the structure accessed from the back portion of the south façade. There is an excavator inside the church on the second floor, working its way toward the front. The demolition crew used rubble as a platform to get the machine one story off the ground.
Photo by Daniel Schell
That pile of rubble allowed contractors to access the upper level of the church building. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
What remains of the front of the school. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The rear of the school building from the alley. Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking through the school east to Richmond Street. Photo by Daniel Schell
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Beautiful old historic church replaced by 4 single family homes. Why? $900,000 each to build single family homes – for that amount of money seems like they could have build some pretty not condos inside that church facade
With the lack of affordable housing in our area, a mid rise multi unit condo/apartment building would have accommodated way more than 4 houses for only 4 families. The city planning department needs to start looking at increasing affordable units in the neighborhoods, rather than allowing more of the same which exacerbates the problem.
While I agree that this should have been a much larger building project, likely resulting in lower priced dwelling units, government authorities force private developers into providing low income housing they have neither the desire to build or manage. Corrupt aldermen have down-zoned these areas to RS-3 to force developers to crawl to them for zoning relief. Then the aldermen either require donations (payouts) to their campaign funds or demand low income housing to be built on the site at the developers expense. This leaves developers with no choice but to build as of right of zoning. A better conclusion to this project would have been to compel the developer to save a portion of the church structure and in exchange for incorporating it into a larger project. I blame zoning and corruption for this result. And regarding affordable dwelling units in the city Chicago, right now, listed, are almost a thousand dwelling units under 100K.
Been there, Thanks for the comment. To clarify I wasn’t speaking of low income housing, rather affordable housing for young working people maybe in their late twenties or early thirties. Decent starter units to build an investment and progress up from there if desired. I don’t have the real estate knowledge that you seem to have and if there are 1000 units for sale under 100k I’m not sure what kind of a housing shortage we have unless those homes are not desirable for some reason. All I hear is they the demand for limited density housing is outpacing supply causing homes to be out of reach for many. I don’t disagree with your comment, I just wanted to clarify mine a bit.
Correction to above:
All I hear is that the demand for limited desirable housing is outpacing supply causing homes to be out of reach for many.
“I blame zoning and corruption for this result”. Agreed. My Architecture professor in Rome was first to point out this issue he noticed with American cities. He shared that with the class back in 1997. I wish I had an answer to the zoning and corruption systemic problem.
“Surely someone will claim the bell.” And those beams!
This is just a travesty. One of the reasons people want to live in the city is to be amongst beautiful historic buildings. We don’t need any more ugly new development homes that already look like garbage after two to three years into their lifespan and seem to be built to discard within a decade.
Some of those windows could be saved
I’m cognizant of changing social patterns, and the fact that society is turning more secular. That said, whenever I see a church come down, whatever the replacement, I cannot help but think of the countless milestones that happened under its roof. The weddings and funerals and blessings, the communions and confirmations. All of the whispered prayers for health and happiness. It’s sad to lose that history.
Very well said. It’s truly a travesty.
Single-family homes? Not even two-flats?
That church was cool-looking but I would’ve supported it being replaced for something denser.
4 houses for 4 wealthy families who probably won’t even live there during the winter. Not a good look.
Is the 900k just for the permits or is that what the whole house is going to cost?
$900k is the reported cost of the work to be done on each permit. It shouldn’t be assumed as cost of the entire build.
City needs the sky-high property taxes paid on those 4 new houses ($20,000 each per year minimum).
Taxes will probably be around 15-20k on each lot but compared to if they made each lot with either 2-4 condos. They would most likely get 30-40k per lot in taxes if they made 3-4 unit dwellings on each lot.
Absolute travesty. Block by block old beautiful buildings that have been carefully crafted by tradesmen are coming down. Replaced by the same large rectangular designed homes. All the new homes look the same. Almost as if there’s only 1 architect doing the same design over and over. Not to mention all new buildings are luxury. Whatever happened to the basics? 4 walls and a roof, working utilities and maybe in building washer/dryer and AFFORDABLE. Not one developer has this mindset.
I’m sure that the school and church had plenty of hardwood flooring and wooden beams, not to mention stained glass windows, etc. that could have and should have been repurposed instead of being reduced to rubble.
I agree with the writers who see the need for saving our history as opposed to putting up more expensive schlock that will only house four wealthy families.
More single family homes. We’re turning into Lincoln park. It’s disgusting. That would have been the perfect spot for multi-units. This is so depressing.
What was the original name of the church? Did it have a school?
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. I have not been able to determine with any certainty the original name or denomination of the church.
I believe it was Christ Evangelical Lutheran
I did a little research which turned up that this was originally Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was active in that capacity from about 1885-1991
And the charm, beauty and history of the neighborhood is gone. Forever changing it into something common and lacking a soul
Let’s hope for the best for this project it may create local prevailing wages pay jobs to the workers that pay taxes for the progress in our communities and bring a better ways of living to them.
To our Alderman’s protect our community jobs with fairness opportunity.
Let’s hope for the best for this project it may create local prevailing wage paying jobs to the workers that pay taxes, They bring progress in our communities, Also better ways of living to them and their families…
To our Alderman’s protect our community jobs with fairness opportunity.