“New condos priced at a million dollars and up now fill a 19th century church that served residents of Cabrini-Green and was deemed a candidate for demolition as recently as five years ago.
“Seven condos, priced from $1.05 million to about $1.4 million, are nearly complete and on the market in the stately brick and limestone building at Elm Street and Cleveland Avenue.
“‘It’s a beautiful church we should keep,’ said Ed Janusz, a partner in Cabrini LLC, the development group that bought the building and its 2.72-acre site for about $1.28 million in 2023 and is now finishing the condos.
“Built in 1889 as the First Swedish Baptist Church, the building spent a century as the home of Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church starting in 1920, with several decades spent ministering to Chicago Housing Authority residents in the now-demolished Cabrini development.
“Keeping it standing was in part a pragmatic choice, Browne said. The cost of demolishing the vast brick structure ‘might have been too much’ to make a project financially doable, she said. At the same time, the brick walls at least a foot thick, high ceilings and sunny openness on both sides are all benefits of reusing an old building, she and Janusz noted.
The former Wayman AME Church is one among many onetime sacred spaces going residential in recent years, but it’s rare among them for two reasons. One is real estate-related. The church was offered as a demolition candidate when it was for sale in 2018 and again in 2021. The listing that time around said, ‘Currently there is a church building on the parcel, but highest and best use is to replace it with a more modern residential development.’ Janusz and his partners clearly felt otherwise. (Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2/3/26)
“Seven on Elm Residences. We are thrilled to introduce a rare opportunity to own a piece of Chicago history: seven luxury residences within a stunning church conversion in the Historic Old Town neighborhood. This project masterfully blends timeless architectural character with modern sophistication, offering truly one-of-a-kind homes designed for elevated urban living.
“This spacious 3-bedroom residence features an open-concept floor plan, soaring ceilings (10-12ft) and 4 full, spa-inspired bathrooms. The chef-inspired kitchen is equipped with Thermador appliances, quartz countertops, an expansive waterfall island, and custom finishes selected by Studio41.
“These homes are crafted with the highest-quality construction and mechanical standards, including closed-cell foam insulation, double-pane windows, and hardwood floors throughout; private outdoor spaces. Duplex-down homes also offer the added comfort of heated lower-level floors. Each unit comes with 1 car garage space. All residences are set just steps from Chicago’s best dining, boutique shopping, lakefront parks, beaches, and vibrant cultural attractions.” (501 W Elm St Listing)
Preservation Chicago has long advocated for the protection, preservation and adaptive reuse of the Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church/First Swedish Baptist Church. We are thrilled that this historic church building is finally safe after being converted to a residential use.
We applaud the significant investment in the historic church building and encourage the owner to pursue a formal Chicago Landmark Designation. The former church building is an good example of the Romanesque Church construction in Chicago.
The historic buildings from the Cabrini-Green Neighborhood have almost all been demolished, so this is one of the last standing survivors we’re thrilled that it has been saved.
Despite some deferred maintenance, prior to the development project, the building was in surprisingly good and stable condition. Following this comprehensive adaptive reuse, it is in excellent condition.
Read the full story at Crain’s Chicago Business and Home.com
- Former Cabrini-Green church is now million-dollar condo, Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2/3/26
- Sales Begin For Residential Conversion Of Cabrini Green Church, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 2/6/26
- Former Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church/ First Swedish Baptist Church, 501 W. Elm St Listing, Homes.com
- With Residential Conversion Pending, Wayman AME Church Is Undergoing Partial Demolition, Daniel Schell, Chicago YIMBY, 12/25/24
- Historic church that served Cabrini-Green for sale again: The listing for the Wayman Church parcel says the ‘highest and best use is to replace it with a more modern residential development,’ Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 10/8/21