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North Shore Spanish Baptist Church

4401 N. Hermitage
Chicago (Cook County)

Built 1884

Teardowns continue to plague this North Side neighborhood, as one of its oldest structures, the 120-year-old North Shore Spanish Baptist Church, at Montrose and Hermitage, was demolished in late November 2004. The congregation plans to replace it with a new facility.

Its demolition permit application was stopped by the city’s 90-day delay ordinance for highly-rated buildings in the citywide survey. This allowed time for LPCI to work with the local alderman and Wiss, Janney, Elstner to evaluate the frame structure, showing it could be renovated for less than the amount the congregation’s architect had estimated. LPCI and Bauer Latoza Studio also offered to assist with a full renovation plan, but these proposals were formally rejected in August by the congregation. Although the church is located in the Ravenswood National Register District—at Hermitage and Montrose—it could not be designated as a protected local landmark, since Chicago’s ordinance requires owner’s consent for active religious properties.

Landmarks Illinois
Suite 1315
53 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604 
tel. 312-922-1742 
fax 312-922-8112

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