In Lincoln Park, one of the more unique facadectomies in the city is moving closer to exterior completion. At 2700 North Pine Grove Avenue, the former Second Church of Christ, Scientist was gutted while its east, west, and south Beaux Arts facades were shored up for preservation, and has been rebuilt to hold 22 dwelling units.
The six-story addition has long been topped out, and now looks nearly polished from the outside. All windows are installed and brickwork is done, with open terraces on the corner units still in need of finishing touches. MC Construction is the general contractor. They got their first permit in June 2023, allowing them to begin erecting steel. In June of this year, two permits were issued to install a pair of 3,500lb capacity passenger elevators that will access all seven levels, including the basement.
Ogden partners is redeveloping the church, which was designed by architect Solon Beman and completed in the early 1900s. Booth Hansen drew up the plans for the construction, which will include a 31-car garage below grade and 17 bicycle spaces. The church’s congregation will have 4,700 square feet of space in which to meet once construction is completed.
2700 North Pine Grove Avenue rendering by Booth Hansen
From the corner of Pine Grove and Wrightwood. Photo by Daniel Schell
inset balconies await finishing touches. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking southwest from North Pine Grove. Photo by Daniel Schell
A block wall along the east facade. Photo by Daniel Schell
The front of the church facade along West Wrightwood Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
South and east facades at the corner of Pine Grove and Wrightwood Avenues. Photo by Daniel Schell
Progress along the way:
Early foundation work, May 2024. Photo by Daniel Schell
Steel rises inside as supports prop up the front facade. Photo by Daniel Schell
May 2025. Photo by Daniel Schell
May 2025. Photo by Daniel Schell
September 2025. Photo by Daniel Schell
September 2025. Photo by Daniel Schell
September 2025. Photo by Daniel Schell
March 2026. Photo by Daniel Schell
March 2026. Photo by Daniel Schell
March 2026. Photo by Daniel Schell
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And we wonder why housing is so expensive… you couldn’t imagine a more complicated way to build apartments.
I’d say that this is a pretty unique situation and not the norm or reason housing is expensive to build here.
This has zero to do with why housing is so expensive. It has everything to do with why this particular project is so expensive.
facadectomies – NICE!
Damn beautiful project.
The congregation is staying, huh. Wonder how large/active it is…the Church of Christ, Scientist (known when I was a kid as “the Christian Scientists”) has been in a long slow decline for decades. There was a smaller Beaux Arts church of theirs in Hyde Park (north of 57th St on…Kenwood I think?) boarded up for many years and I believe eventually torn down.
This reminds me to have my prescription refilled by my doctor.