“A developer who’s nearly finished converting a former synagogue in Logan Square to apartments will follow it up by doing the same with a historical church nearby.
“Bob Ranquist, principal of Ranquist Development Group, said that in the past 30 days renters leased half the 14 units in the former synagogue at 3228 W. Palmer St., which was later a Boys & Girls Club. A model unit opens today, May 18, and first move-ins are scheduled for July 1.
“In the past week, the city issued permits for work on a former Presbyterian church at 1847 N. Humboldt Ave. where the sanctuary and a structure to be built next to it will contain 15 apartments. Excavation on the site began today, Ranquist said.
“The two former sanctuaries are roughly a mile apart on the boulevard system. Along with their history as places of worship, they share a brand identity as apartments: The Palmer Avenue building is called the Grand Palmer Lodge and the Humboldt Boulevard project will be the Grand Logan Lodge.
“Adaptive reuse of former religious buildings has become a popular strategy for Chicago residential developers, as retaining historical facades preserves a tie to neighborhood history. Among many others, a historical Christian Science church in Kenwood is being remade as townhouses, and in Edgewater, a developer is turning a former convent into apartments.” (Rodkin, 5/18/20)
Preservation Chicago supports the adaptive reuse of this building, and we would like to see the exterior facade landmarked. We’d encourage retention of the large upper art-glass windows of the front facade.
Read the full story at Crain’s Chicago Business
2 former Logan Square religious buildings becoming apartments