Midcentury West Town Church Likely To Be Demolished, Replaced With 6 Single-Family Homes "Last year, the East Village Association neighborhood group drafted a letter to support preservation of the midcentury church building, saying it is “significant enough to be considered for Chicago Landmarks designation.” The church currently does not hold any landmark protections. "'Santa Maria Parish served countless thousands of neighborhood immigrants and families, many of who still live in its shadow,” the letter reads. “Even after its closure, the structure remains an anchor within the community and a landmark clearly visible from outside it.” "Association President Bob Zwolinski — who was involved in the adaptive reuse of the nearby St. Boniface Catholic church into condos — called the potential demolition “a travesty.” "'Why can’t we reuse that building like we did at St. Boniface? The structure inside is pretty awesome,” he said Tuesday. "Built in 1960, Santa Maria Addolorata was designed by architect Joseph Bagnuolo, according to a plaque on the church’s front wall. It was one of many churches, hospitals and other projects he designed across the Chicago area, according to a brief Tribune obituary from 1996. "Advocacy group Preservation Chicago has been pushing to save the building since news of the sale became public last year. "Executive Director Ward Miller said the looming demolition of the church highlights shortcomings within the city’s historic preservation policies and that communities need more “tools in the toolbox” to save buildings from the wrecking ball. "'Flat out, there are no protections for this building,' said Miller, who was also involved in the recent landmarking of St. Adalbert’s Catholic church in Pilsen, a process that took years and at times grew contentious. "The Santa Maria Addolorata church building is not listed among the more than 17,000 buildings that make up the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, which was completed in 1995 and guides the city’s preservation agenda for properties dating from mostly before 1940. "Unlike the “red-” and “orange-rated” properties listed in the survey, the church does not qualify for a 90-day demolition delay, which for applicable properties allows city planners to “explore options, as appropriate, to preserve the building, including but not limited to landmark designation” before a demolition permit is issued, according to a planning department website. "One policy change Miller wants to see is an extension of the 90-day rule for any Chicago building older than 50 years, especially churches, which he said “belong to the community.” That would at the very least force a conversation about how to save more buildings, he said. "'I think we really do need to figure out a way to protect these buildings, to encourage their reuse, whatever that is, and the reuse on a case-by-case basis,” Miller said. "'Here, there’s a lot of opportunities. I don’t think the best opportunity, the best solution, is to demolish the building and then replace it with very expensive market-rate housing.” blockclubchicago.org/2026/04… via @BlockClubChi photo credit: properties Christie's International Real Estate