“A developer is preparing to tear down a former Catholic church that has stood on a West Town corner since 1960 and replace it with six single-family homes, according to permit applications filed with the city.

“MK Construction and Builders last week applied for a demolition permit for the Santa Maria Addolorata church building, 1315 W. Ohio St., which closed after it was consolidated into a new parish in 2021.

“If the pending demolition moves forward, it will be the latest example in a citywide trend that’s seen developers buy up vacant churches of various denominations. Some have been converted into condos or other housing, while others have been torn down for new construction projects.

“The West Town church property went up for sale last year with a $3 million asking price. The Archdiocese of Chicago received multiple bids on the site, which sits in an area of West Town that regularly sees single-family homes sell for more than $1 million, Crain’s reported.

“The demolition news comes as some West Town neighbors, the local alderperson and preservationists had hoped the building could be saved.

“Built in 1960, Santa Maria Addolorata was designed by architect Joseph Bagnuolo, according to a plaque on the church’s front wall. It was one of many churches, hospitals and other projects he designed across the Chicago area, according to a brief Tribune obituary from 1996.

“Last year, the East Village Association neighborhood group drafted a letter to support preservation of the midcentury church building, saying it is ‘significant enough to be considered for Chicago Landmarks designation.’ The church currently does not hold any landmark protections.

“‘Santa Maria Parish served countless thousands of neighborhood immigrants and families, many of who still live in its shadow,” the letter reads. ‘Even after its closure, the structure remains an anchor within the community and a landmark clearly visible from outside it.’

“Association President Bob Zwolinski — who was involved in the adaptive reuse of the nearby St. Boniface Catholic church into condos — called the potential demolition “a travesty.’

“‘Why can’t we reuse that building like we did at St. Boniface? The structure inside is pretty awesome,’ he said Tuesday.

Advocacy group Preservation Chicago has been pushing to save the building since news of the sale became public last year.

Executive Director Ward Miller said the looming demolition of the church highlights shortcomings within the city’s historic preservation policies and that communities need more “tools in the toolbox” to save buildings from the wrecking ball.

“Flat out, there are no protections for this building,” said Miller, who was also involved in the recent landmarking of St. Adalbert’s Catholic church in Pilsen, a process that took years and at times grew contentious.

The Santa Maria Addolorata church building is not listed among the more than 17,000 buildings that make up the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, which was completed in 1995 and guides the city’s preservation agenda for properties dating from mostly before 1940.

“Unlike the “red-” and “orange-rated” properties listed in the survey, the church does not qualify for a 90-day demolition delay, which for applicable properties allows city planners to “explore options, as appropriate, to preserve the building, including but not limited to landmark designation’ before a demolition permit is issued, according to a planning department website.

“One policy change Miller wants to see is an extension of the 90-day rule for any Chicago building older than 50 years, especially churches, which he said ‘belong to the community.’ That would at the very least force a conversation about how to save more buildings, he said.

“‘I think we really do need to figure out a way to protect these buildings, to encourage their reuse, whatever that is, and the reuse on a case-by-case basis,’ Miller said. ‘Here, there’s a lot of opportunities. I don’t think the best opportunity, the best solution, is to demolish the building and then replace it with very expensive market-rate housing.'” (Meyers, Block Club Chicago, 4/29/26)

The former Santa Maria Addolorata Catholic Church at 1315 W. Ohio—Ohio and Ada Streets (the front entry to the church actually fronts on Ada Street) is a strong candidate for Chicago Landmark Designation.

There is urgency in the rapid response advocacy action, as the church has no protections against demolition. Despite its extraordinary architecture, it was built in 1996 too young to be listed in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (CHRS) that was released in the 1990s. Santa Maria Addolorata is not orange-rated and therefore is not subject to the 90 Day Demolition Delay Hold which places the former church building in immediate danger.

There is strong community opposition to the demolition of Santa Maria Addolorata Church. It is a beautiful and artful midcentury religious building that should be sold to another religious congregation or community organization. There are many other sites that should be used for new residential units, and preferably higher density residential units than single family homes.

Many letters of opposition to demolition and support for Chicago Landmark Designation have been sent to 1st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata’s office. Letters of support for Chicago Landmark Designation were submitted by Eckhart Park Neighbors, East Village Association, and Preservation Chicago, along with many letters from individual Noble Square community members.”A developer is preparing to tear down a former Catholic church that has stood on a West Town corner since 1960 and replace it with six single-family homes, according to permit applications filed with the city.

“MK Construction and Builders last week applied for a demolition permit for the Santa Maria Addolorata church building, 1315 W. Ohio St., which closed after it was consolidated into a new parish in 2021.

“If the pending demolition moves forward, it will be the latest example in a citywide trend that’s seen developers buy up vacant churches of various denominations. Some have been converted into condos or other housing, while others have been torn down for new construction projects.

“The West Town church property went up for sale last year with a $3 million asking price. The Archdiocese of Chicago received multiple bids on the site, which sits in an area of West Town that regularly sees single-family homes sell for more than $1 million, Crain’s reported.

“The demolition news comes as some West Town neighbors, the local alderperson and preservationists had hoped the building could be saved.

“Built in 1960, Santa Maria Addolorata was designed by architect Joseph Bagnuolo, according to a plaque on the church’s front wall. It was one of many churches, hospitals and other projects he designed across the Chicago area, according to a brief Tribune obituary from 1996.

“Last year, the East Village Association neighborhood group drafted a letter to support preservation of the midcentury church building, saying it is ‘significant enough to be considered for Chicago Landmarks designation.’ The church currently does not hold any landmark protections.

“‘Santa Maria Parish served countless thousands of neighborhood immigrants and families, many of who still live in its shadow,” the letter reads. ‘Even after its closure, the structure remains an anchor within the community and a landmark clearly visible from outside it.’

“Association President Bob Zwolinski — who was involved in the adaptive reuse of the nearby St. Boniface Catholic church into condos — called the potential demolition “a travesty.’

“‘Why can’t we reuse that building like we did at St. Boniface? The structure inside is pretty awesome,’ he said Tuesday.

Advocacy group Preservation Chicago has been pushing to save the building since news of the sale became public last year.

Executive Director Ward Miller said the looming demolition of the church highlights shortcomings within the city’s historic preservation policies and that communities need more “tools in the toolbox” to save buildings from the wrecking ball.

“Flat out, there are no protections for this building,” said Miller, who was also involved in the recent landmarking of St. Adalbert’s Catholic church in Pilsen, a process that took years and at times grew contentious.

The Santa Maria Addolorata church building is not listed among the more than 17,000 buildings that make up the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, which was completed in 1995 and guides the city’s preservation agenda for properties dating from mostly before 1940.

“Unlike the “red-” and “orange-rated” properties listed in the survey, the church does not qualify for a 90-day demolition delay, which for applicable properties allows city planners to “explore options, as appropriate, to preserve the building, including but not limited to landmark designation’ before a demolition permit is issued, according to a planning department website.

“One policy change Miller wants to see is an extension of the 90-day rule for any Chicago building older than 50 years, especially churches, which he said ‘belong to the community.’ That would at the very least force a conversation about how to save more buildings, he said.

“‘I think we really do need to figure out a way to protect these buildings, to encourage their reuse, whatever that is, and the reuse on a case-by-case basis,’ Miller said. ‘Here, there’s a lot of opportunities. I don’t think the best opportunity, the best solution, is to demolish the building and then replace it with very expensive market-rate housing.'” (Meyers, Block Club Chicago, 4/29/26)

The former Santa Maria Addolorata Catholic Church at 1315 W. Ohio—Ohio and Ada Streets (the front entry to the church actually fronts on Ada Street) is a strong candidate for Chicago Landmark Designation.

There is urgency in the rapid response advocacy action, as the church has no protections against demolition. Despite its extraordinary architecture, it was built in 1996 too young to be listed in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (CHRS) that was released in the 1990s. Santa Maria Addolorata is not orange-rated and therefore is not subject to the 90 Day Demolition Delay Hold which places the former church building in immediate danger.

There is strong community opposition to the demolition of Santa Maria Addolorata Church. It is a beautiful and artful midcentury religious building that should be sold to another religious congregation or community organization. There are many other sites that should be used for new residential units, and preferably higher density residential units than single family homes.

Many letters of opposition to demolition and support for Chicago Landmark Designation have been sent to 1st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata’s office. Letters of support for Chicago Landmark Designation were submitted by Eckhart Park Neighbors, East Village Association, and Preservation Chicago, along with many letters from individual Noble Square community members.”A developer is preparing to tear down a former Catholic church that has stood on a West Town corner since 1960 and replace it with six single-family homes, according to permit applications filed with the city.

“MK Construction and Builders last week applied for a demolition permit for the Santa Maria Addolorata church building, 1315 W. Ohio St., which closed after it was consolidated into a new parish in 2021.

“If the pending demolition moves forward, it will be the latest example in a citywide trend that’s seen developers buy up vacant churches of various denominations. Some have been converted into condos or other housing, while others have been torn down for new construction projects.

“The West Town church property went up for sale last year with a $3 million asking price. The Archdiocese of Chicago received multiple bids on the site, which sits in an area of West Town that regularly sees single-family homes sell for more than $1 million, Crain’s reported.

“The demolition news comes as some West Town neighbors, the local alderperson and preservationists had hoped the building could be saved.

“Built in 1960, Santa Maria Addolorata was designed by architect Joseph Bagnuolo, according to a plaque on the church’s front wall. It was one of many churches, hospitals and other projects he designed across the Chicago area, according to a brief Tribune obituary from 1996.

“Last year, the East Village Association neighborhood group drafted a letter to support preservation of the midcentury church building, saying it is ‘significant enough to be considered for Chicago Landmarks designation.’ The church currently does not hold any landmark protections.

“‘Santa Maria Parish served countless thousands of neighborhood immigrants and families, many of who still live in its shadow,” the letter reads. ‘Even after its closure, the structure remains an anchor within the community and a landmark clearly visible from outside it.’

“Association President Bob Zwolinski — who was involved in the adaptive reuse of the nearby St. Boniface Catholic church into condos — called the potential demolition “a travesty.’

“‘Why can’t we reuse that building like we did at St. Boniface? The structure inside is pretty awesome,’ he said Tuesday.

Advocacy group Preservation Chicago has been pushing to save the building since news of the sale became public last year.

Executive Director Ward Miller said the looming demolition of the church highlights shortcomings within the city’s historic preservation policies and that communities need more “tools in the toolbox” to save buildings from the wrecking ball.

“Flat out, there are no protections for this building,” said Miller, who was also involved in the recent landmarking of St. Adalbert’s Catholic church in Pilsen, a process that took years and at times grew contentious.

The Santa Maria Addolorata church building is not listed among the more than 17,000 buildings that make up the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, which was completed in 1995 and guides the city’s preservation agenda for properties dating from mostly before 1940.

“Unlike the “red-” and “orange-rated” properties listed in the survey, the church does not qualify for a 90-day demolition delay, which for applicable properties allows city planners to “explore options, as appropriate, to preserve the building, including but not limited to landmark designation’ before a demolition permit is issued, according to a planning department website.

“One policy change Miller wants to see is an extension of the 90-day rule for any Chicago building older than 50 years, especially churches, which he said ‘belong to the community.’ That would at the very least force a conversation about how to save more buildings, he said.

“‘I think we really do need to figure out a way to protect these buildings, to encourage their reuse, whatever that is, and the reuse on a case-by-case basis,’ Miller said. ‘Here, there’s a lot of opportunities. I don’t think the best opportunity, the best solution, is to demolish the building and then replace it with very expensive market-rate housing.'” (Meyers, Block Club Chicago, 4/29/26)

The former Santa Maria Addolorata Catholic Church at 1315 W. Ohio—Ohio and Ada Streets (the front entry to the church actually fronts on Ada Street) is a strong candidate for Chicago Landmark Designation.

There is urgency in the rapid response advocacy action, as the church has no protections against demolition. Despite its extraordinary architecture, it was built in 1996 too young to be listed in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (CHRS) that was released in the 1990s. Santa Maria Addolorata is not orange-rated and therefore is not subject to the 90 Day Demolition Delay Hold which places the former church building in immediate danger.

There is strong community opposition to the demolition of Santa Maria Addolorata Church. It is a beautiful and artful midcentury religious building that should be sold to another religious congregation or community organization. There are many other sites that should be used for new residential units, and preferably higher density residential units than single family homes.

Many letters of opposition to demolition and support for Chicago Landmark Designation have been sent to 1st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata’s office. Letters of support for Chicago Landmark Designation were submitted by Eckhart Park Neighbors, East Village Association, and Preservation Chicago, along with many letters from individual Noble Square community members.

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Midcentury West Town Church Likely To Be Demolished, Replaced With 6 Single-Family Homes; A developer has applied for a permit to tear down the former Santa Maria Addolorata church, built in 1960. Neighbors have advocated for the building to be saved, Quinn Meyers, Block Club Chicago, 4/29/26
• New houses to replace modernist Catholic church in Noble Square, Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 4/7/25
• 1315 W Ohio Street Santa Maria Addolorata Church Listing @properties Christie’s International Real Estate