“A project that’s part historic preservation and part new construction is taking shape in Lincoln Park, adding a six-story residential tower to a Beaux Arts-style church.

“Chicago-based Ogden Partners is redeveloping the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, where the parish will maintain a presence after a six-story residential tower is added. Three exterior walls of the 123-year-old church — once considered one of the most endangered buildings in Chicago by preservationists — are being reused under the project.

“As of the last week of August 2024, steel framework could be seen inside of the three remaining facades of the church, which is surrounded by fencing as construction continues.

“Plans to redevelop the property at 2700 N. Pine Grove Ave. have been years in the making. It was rezoned to allow for multifamily units in 2018. In August 2020, in a virtual community meeting, the church showed renderings of what the redevelopment could look like, and permits were issued in June 2023.

“The project will help save the church after the congregation dwindled, making it more difficult to support the building. The Second Church of Christ, Scientist, will maintain about 5,000 square feet of space. The church is currently holding its Sunday services and Wednesday meetings over Zoom as construction takes place, according to its website.

“The church was built in 1901 and designed by Solon S. Beman — architect of the Pullman neighborhood and the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue. Preservation Chicago included the Lincoln Park structure on its 2019 list of the “most endangered” buildings in the city, noting that the building was for sale, which could lead to its eventual demolition.

“Then-Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) told the Sun-Times in 2022 the homes in the residential tower would be for sale, not rent. The ward’s current alderperson, Timmy Knudsen, did not respond Friday to requests for comment.

“The addition is designed ‘not to compete with the existing façade, but to subtly complement it,’ the development team said in its report to the city.

“‘This saves the exterior and the whole front part of the building so that the congregation can still worship,’ Smith said in 2022. ‘It’s a compromise, and it’s a good one.’

Preservation Chicago had long advocated to save the Second Church of Christ Scientist and it was a 2019 Chicago 7 Most Endangered. Second Church of Christ was designed by Solon S. Beman in 1901 and was eligible for a Chicago Landmark designation.

While we are happy that the that facade is being preserved and incorporated into the new construction, the building’s beautiful interior and magnificent dome presented a unique opportunity. We made significant progress towards a community-oriented, preservation-alternative that would have saved and reused the interior and dome.

In 2020, Preservation Chicago was able to secure the interest of a major philanthropic foundation to purchase and restore the magnificent church building and convert it into a community cultural arts center. Additionally, the congregation would have continued to have access for religious services. The congregation flatly rejected the offer preferring to monetize the value of the land.

Ward Miller, Executive Director of Preservation Chicago, spoke at the public meeting to encourage preservation and landmarking of the historic building and for a cultural use for the historic gem in November 2017.

As reported by Peter von Buol in the Skyline in 2017, Ward Miller said, “We do not need another residential high-rise at this site. It will adversely affect the quality of life, sunlight, air and throw shadows on adjacent buildings. What we do need collectively, is a great and amazing resource and cultural center, for an already dense neighborhood. This is a once-in-a-life-time chance. Let’s not blow it, with another embarrassing loss and demolition of one of Chicago’s great architectural treasures.”

“‘The church mentioned they would consider a donation of the building to a good steward, so let that steward be all of us collectively and let’s all advocate for a collective reuse that benefits all Chicagoans, looking to the near future,’ said Miller, who added that Preservation Chicago will work with the congregation and the community to help make the community-center vision a reality.

“Built in 1901, the classical façade of the building recalls one of Beman’s most celebrated design, the ‘Merchant and Tailors’ Building” of Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. ‘The World’s Fair building had received numerous awards for its designs. Beman worked with members of the Christian Science Movement and its leaders, including Mary Eddy Baker, the faith’s founder and leader, to design “a most perfect church prototype’ for subsequent Christian Science buildings. Beman included few, if any, traditional religious symbols and symbolism, in designing a beautiful light-filled sanctuary and with an auditorium and assembly-space as a sanctuary,’ added Miller.

“‘The sanctuary of the church, with its art glass and gilded dome, its magnificent column-free space, with wide arches and honey-colored art windows; its rare Austin organ, could be an unparalleled space for concerts, cultural events, music, lectures, presentations affiliated with the local museums and institutions, including The Lincoln Park Conservatory, the Lincoln Park Zoo and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Center. This would all be located a mere half-block from Lincoln Park, and would be an amazing resource for the Lincoln Park community, and for all of Chicago,’ suggested Miller.

“‘The Chicago Cultural Center was constructed as the Chicago Public Central Library in 1897. It was rethought as the Chicago Cultural Center in 1977 and has been one of the best reuse projects in the city’s history. It’s still a remarkable center and proof of a visionary series of decisions that were made in the 1970s, by elected officials, city leaders, and philanthropic organizations. Let’s continue to have that visionary outlook and reuse the church building for everything both cultural and imaginative. Let’s ask the church, city, elected officials to work together with our Chicago philanthropy community to make this vision a reality,’ Miller said.” (Von Buol, Skyline, 11/22/17)

Read the full story at Chicago Sun-Times

• Residential addition to historic Lincoln Park church is underway; The 1901 church will see three of its exterior facades preserved as redevelopment pairs a new space for the congregation with residential units, Abby Miller, Chicago Sun-Times, 8/31/24
• Tony Lincoln Park projects show the rich are all right; Whatever else is happening in the city or with its housing market, demand powers onward in the city’s wealthy districts, David Roeder, Chicago Sun-Times, 5/23/22
• Plan Commission virtually approves destruction of historic church building, Peter von Buol, Inside-Booster, 6/8/22
• Lincoln Park congregation mulls fate of historic Pine Grove Building, Peter von Buol, Skyline, 11/22/17
• Second Church of Christ, Scientist. A 2019 Chicago 7 Most Endangered