Condo conversion for Noble Square’s St. Boniface Church moves forward

After enduring three decades of vacancy and threats of impending demolition, Chicago’s 116-year-old St. Boniface Catholic Church is ready to start life anew as condominiums.

The long-discussed adaptive reuse project is slated to go before the Chicago Plan Commission for preliminary zoning approval in April, says Michael Skoulsky of Stas Development. Skoulsky and company stepped in and purchased St. Boniface in 2016 as part of a last minute deal to save the threatened building.

As per the latest plan, the 1902 Henry Schlacks-designed church at 1358 W. Chestnut Street will be partitioned into 17 for-sale residences. These homes will be joined by 24 condos in a new structure rising to the east of St. Boniface. An additional two-story building to the north will serve as a new space for Northwestern Settlement—a local Noble Square nonprofit.

“Northwestern Settlement was the best fit for this project,” said Skoulsky. “They’re currently located a just block away and have been doing great work in the neighborhood for 126 years.”

The upcoming facility at St. Boniface will contain space for the group’s administrative offices, mental health program, and four affordable-rate apartments reserved for teachers and volunteers. Chicago Academy of Music is no longer involved with the project.

Image courtesy of Stas Development

From a design perspective, Skoulsky says the new buildings won’t try to replicate the architecture of the original Romanesque church. His team is working with Chicago-based Space Architects + Planners to come up with modern concepts that compliment—instead of mimic—their historic neighbor. This may include a “chameleon” gold-aluminum cladding that changes color when viewed from different angles.

As far as project timing goes, Noble Square residents can expect work to begin on St. Boniface before anything else. “The church is the priority. It’s been 30 years and the neighborhood is ready,” Skoulsky told Curbed.

Provided approvals go as planned, the religious structure’s currently dilapidated interior will be transformed and welcoming its first residents sometime in 2020.

Image courtesy of Stas Development

• St. Boniface Church resurrected as a new condo development [Chicago Magazine]
• Developer closes on St. Boniface, saving church from demolition [Curbed Chicago]
• A walkthrough of the long vacant St. Boniface Church [Curbed Chicago]