Humboldt Park United Methodist Church Adaptive Reuse

 

Humboldt Park United Methodist Church Adaptive Reuse – 2120-28 N. Mozart St.

 

The City of Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) proposes to provide project financing to the Latin United Community Housing Association (dba LUCHA) for the preservation of twelve (12) existing rental units and the creation of ten (10) new affordable units located at 2120-28 N. Mozart St., Chicago, IL. LUCHA proposes an adaptive reuse of the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church (the church) sanctuary space to construct the new apartments and would rehabilitate the twelve (12) existing apartments immediately north adjacent to the church.   The proposed project is facilitated by DOH's Multifamily Loan Program, funded, in part, with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grant funds. Because the undertaking involves a federal grant program, HUD requires federal environmental review, including review requirements for historic resources.

The City of Chicago Department of Fleet & Facility Management (2FM) has received HUD delegated authority to provide environmental review responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with 24 CFR Part 58. 2FM is the Responsible Entity for the environmental review of the proposed undertaking and is acting as the Agency Official with respect to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

In accordance with a 2022-2027 Programmatic Agreement between the City of Chicago and the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a historic property identification and determination checklist was completed for the proposed project by Secretary of Interior (SOI) qualified personnel and the undertaking was determined to have an Adverse Effect.  The subject property is identified as “Orange” in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey and the church is undetermined in the Illinois Historic and Architectural Resources Geographic Information System (HARGIS). SOI qualified personnel have determined that the project site is potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion C for architectural design.

The proposed undertaking will modify the church building exterior through the introduction of new dormer windows and aluminum cladding at the south elevation of the loft level. The proposed interior modifications to the sanctuary space include removal of existing balcony, stairs, and pipe organ, as well as construction of new walls, floors, stairs, and elevator dividing the currently open volume.  These proposed modifications would diminish the historic property’s integrity of design, materials, and workmanship such that it’s potential eligibility for listing in the NRHP under Criterion C would be compromised. SHPO concurred with the Adverse Effect determination on May 5, 2023.

To resolve the adverse effect determination, 2FM and SHPO have proposed a Level III Historic Illinois Building Survey (HIBS) recordation, a process of documenting the building and its history for future reference. Additional information is available below.

 

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