“A local church’s plans to expand its parking lot onto what’s currently a single-family home have been turned down by the alderwoman after neighbors opposed the project.
“The Assyrian Church of the East, the denomination headquartered at St. George Cathedral at the corner of Ashland and Touhy avenues, sought a zoning change for the home at 1530 W. Touhy Ave., next to the church.
“The zoning change would allow the property to house a parking lot, which would go a long way to addressing parking issues during church services, supporters of the congregation said.
“But Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said she would not support the zoning proposal after neighbors spoke out about the potential loss of the home and green space in the neighborhood.
“In 2011, the parish bought the single-family home next door to the cathedral, Cook County property records show. The home, which neighbors say dates back to about 1905, has been vacant for over a decade.
“To improve its parking situation, the church asked the city to rezone the home so the property could include a 22-car expansion of its lot. Doing so would allow as many as 60 more parishioners to park at church and would encourage participation in church services, said Al Youna, president of the Assyrian Church’s eastern U.S. diocese.
“Those plans did not sit well with some neighbors, who said losing a home and green space to a paved lot would hurt the environment. Others said a parking lot was not the highest and best use of a property in a Rogers Park neighborhood that needs more housing.
“The church does not need city permission to demolish the home, and there are no historical protections for the home that limit the ability to tear it down, Hadden said.” (Ward, Block Club Chicago, 12/7/23)