The Chicago Academy of Music will reveal their construction timeline for their new facility next to the old St. Boniface Church at an open house in January.
Dubbed East Village Lofts, the project from developer Mark Sutherland will preserve the masonry facade of the old church at 1056 N. Ashland and tack-on a modern five-story addition designed by Milbury Architects.
East Village’s St. Boniface will likely be demolished but the old Sears in Lincoln Square will be saved. Both buildings have been previously been declared "endangered" by preservationists.
The building at 1611 W Division, the first of many Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) built within the last few years, fulfilled all of the requirements Catrina was looking for in a fresh start in the city’s East Village neighborhood.
To make their plan financially feasible, the Chicago Academy of Music is now looking at building new residences on the vacant lot next door to St. Boniface.
The Chicago Academy of Music has expressed interest in purchasing the property and using it for classes and events. There is a court hearing on Wednesday to present the letter of intent.
After standing vacant for 26 years, could the resurrection of Saint Boniface Church be on the horizon? A new flyer being circulated around the East Village neighborhood suggests that the city is growing impatient with the lack of action taken.