When old churches are converted to residential, they often yield large floor plans and soaring interior spaces. The former St. Hedwig's Mission Church at 2445 North Washtenaw Avenue is no exception in that sense. But it features an exceptional aesthetic, which landed it on the cover of the Tribune's home design magazine in 1995 and brought the property notoriety in real estate and arts circles.
Now, after years of hosting fundraising events (including for the Art Institute) and being part of the Lyric Opera's charity house tour, this Logan Square home is back on the market.
The space, listed for $1.2 million, includes a 3,300-square-foot living unit, a lower-level 1,000-square-foot studio, and a 1,200-square-foot lower-level rental unit that's currently renting for $1,300 a month.
“It’s so perfect for an architect or an artist, someone who wants to use that incredible artist studio,” says listing agent Alan Shultz with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Gold Coast.
The church sits on two and a half city lots only a short walk from Logan Boulevard to the north and Fullerton to the south. Constructed in 1888, the building still sports its original wooden scissor trusses and stained glass windows. The owners purchased it from the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1990 and spent four years converting the space.
The main floor of the church is a large open living area with kitchen, eating area, and a fireplace and seating area in what was once the altar nave of the church. A large butler’s pantry on the main level leads to a 500-square-foot back deck. The home also has an attached two-car garage.
The first-floor bedroom has angular, loft-like partial-height walls, Shultz explains. Newly installed stairs built partially on new walkways above the bedroom lead to the loft space, which showcases a circular stained glass window and includes two studies and a second bedroom. The home includes four full baths.
With lots in the area going for $340,000, Schultz says he’s priced the church to sell—the land alone would be worth $850,000 in today’s market.
