Initial details have been revealed for another residential conversion of a former church at 3300 West Pierce Avenue in Humboldt Park. Located on the corner of North Spaulding Avenue and just off West North Avenue, the project represents the latest attempt to redevelop the long-vacant structure. The plans were presented at a community meeting held last week.
Site map of 3300 W Pierce Ave via Google Maps
However, this is not the first time a conversion has been proposed for the three-story structure, which was built in the late 1800s, according to Block Club. In 2019, a different developer proposed converting the church into 13 for-sale units priced between $200,000 and $250,000. That proposal was ultimately denied by the previous alderman following opposition from nearby residents.
PREVIOUS (left) – current (right) rendering of 3300 W Pierce Ave
Now, local developer Vandy Projects has brought forward new plans to convert the building into 20 residential units. These would include two one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom units. Additionally, 30 percent of the units would be designated as affordable for households earning up to 60 percent of AMI, with the remaining units available to households earning up to 100 percent of AMI.
Floor plan of 3300 W Pierce Ave by Vandy Projects
In addition to interior renovations, the project would include restoration of the building’s façade and the installation of new windows on all floors, including new openings in the bell tower. No on-site parking is planned, with the developer instead working to secure spaces in nearby lots within walking distance. The $5.5 million project will require approval from the alderwoman and the city before moving forward and is expected to have a 13-month construction timeline.
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
Rehab is better than demolish, but why would someone choose to redevelop an historic church, and then replace the characteristic windows and details with the most generic windows that every quickly developed apartment building has? Is that really the money saver or only way to bring in more light?
Or both.
I really hope the render is just AI generated or something and they’re not planning on replacing all the gothic and round windows with rectangular windows. Otherwise, I am glad to see this church being converted to housing, I’ve walked by it several times before, and it’d be great having a new life breathed into it
I bet daylighting requirements are what’s forcing the new windows. I know some churches have gotten away with the old… I personally don’t know all the ins and outs of adaptive reuse.
That small of a space would not need that many windows from a light & vent standpoint. With the peaked gothic windows all you would have to do is have a fixed pane for the top, with an operable pane for the lower half in order to meet requirements. The circular flower windows are a bit more difficult, but if this was an open concept living/dining/kitchen area, the adjacent windows could still meet light/vent needs.
Hopefully it’s just Ai slop, because the rendering also has them changing the main entry arch from peaked to rounded, which would be an unnecessarily expensive endeavor.
This new proposal really is taking a chain saw to the neo-gothic revival elements of this church exterior.
Good news is this version doesn’t slap a garage door over the former main entrance.
Yet
looks like a good use of the building! keep it affordable folks
My primary concern is the parking. Where will the residents’ vehicles be parked? How does this impact parking for the existing residents ? On another note, gentrification is inevitable. In that context, this is the best use for the building. Glad it’s being somewhat preserved. Wish those from the neighborhood were the target market, however we know it’s not. That said I would hope that the developers prioritized residents when considering the sale of the units.