Funding has been announced for the new home of The American Blues Theater at 5627 N Lincoln Avenue in West Ridge. Located just north of the intersection with W Bryn Mawr Avenue and near Rosehill Cemetery, the theater will be redeveloping a one-story commercial building built in 1985 that previously housed a Dollar General. Morris Architects Planners are leading the structure’s re-design with Schuler Shook supplying the theater systems.
As the 21st entry in YIMBY’s year-end countdown, the Obama Presidential Center continues to rise in Hyde Park. Planned by The Obama Foundation, the complex will feature three occupiable buildings within its Jackson Park site, including a museum, a forum building, and a new library branch. In addition to these buildings, the center will also include outdoor areas with play spaces, walking paths, sledding hills, and a pedestrian promenade.
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved the Adopt-a-Landmark Fund for the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church at 4501 S Vincennes Avenue in Grand Boulevard. Located on the intersection with E 45th Street, the historical church is credited as being the birthplace of Gospel music and a long term stalwart of the local community. Under a new pastor, the church hopes to see a renaissance as it uses the money for the restoration of the Dankmar Adler designed synagogue, originally built for the Isaiah Temple congregation.
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved the Adopt-a-Landmark Fund for the Pui Tak Center at 2216 S Wentworth Avenue in Chinatown. Located just south of the intersection with W Cermak Road near the Chinatown Gate, the multi-story structure has been an anchor for the surrounding community for decades. Originally built for On Leong Merchants Association in 1928, it was designed by architects Christian S. Michaelsen and Sigurd A. Rognstad in an Orientalism-style.
Updated details have been revealed for a community arts center at 1353 E 72nd Street in Greater Grand Crossing. Located just west of the intersection with S Dorchester Avenue, the project will rehabilitate the previously abandoned St. Laurence Catholic School which has sat vacant after past redevelopment plans failed. The creative force behind the new art-focused spaces is the Rebuild Foundation led by Theaster Gates who is well known for his Stony Island Arts Bank project. Woman-owned Muller 2 known for their O’Hare Terminal 5 extension are serving as the architects, while Power & Sons as the general contractor.
