Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 509 West Elm Street in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood on the Near North Side, is undergoing the partial demolition of one- and two-story additions to the original church structure. The single-story portion has already been reduced to rubble, and the crew from demo contractor DemoX is working on the two-story addition that extends the west end of the building.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
A pending permit in the Chicago Data Portal would allow the church to be converted into seven residential units, while also performing rehab work to the building where needed. That permit names DemoX as the developer and general contractor. It calls for a rooftop deck connected by stair enclosures, and a four-car garage located on the ground floor. No timeline for the beginning of conversion work and its completion are known at the moment.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The Romanesque-style church was erected in 1889 as the First Swedish Baptist Church; it became Wayman AME Church in 1920, according to Preservation Chicago. Located on the northeast corner of the block bounded by Elm Street to the north, Cambridge Avenue to the west, Hobbie Street to the south, and Cleveland Avenue to the east, it shares a site where site prep has recently begun for the Parkside Phase 3 residential development, which received several building permits in May.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Demolition permit posted on site. Photo by Daniel Schell
Google Street View image of the westernmost addition that has been removed
Immediately south of Wayman AME Church, site prep is underway for Parkside Phase 3. Photo by Daniel Schell
Wayman CME Church lies one block east of Seward Park. Nearby public transit option include the CTA’s Route 70 bus, which runs along Division Street two blocks northeast and two blocks northwest of 509 West Elm Street. The Route 66 bus runs along Chicago Avenue about four blocks south. The Chicago and Sedgwick Brown/Purple Line platforms are each about six or so blocks away, with Chicago to the south and Sedgwick to the north.
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I respectfully suggest that the extant building is not worth saving .
Start over and get something really nice and 21st century relevant .
I respectfully disagree
I disagree with George as well. As long as historic structures can serve a new purpose, let’s convert them and hold on to our architectural heritage. There is plenty of opportunity to build completely new buildings – but we’ll never get one of these old beauties back.
Hard disagree as well.
There is PLENTY of availbale vacant land in that immediate area for “something really nice and 21st century relevant”.
Once we throw away a funky and cool 135 year old church structure like that, it’s gone forver. We generally don’t build with that level of intricate masonry work anymore (union wage for masons is just too high to pencil).
Truly successful neighborhoods are a tapestry of old and new to create visual interest which draws people. This is a big loss.
What’s a big loss? The church is being converted to residences, with only the later additions being demolished.