Monday, January 27, 2020

Residential Development, Including Senior Housing, Proposed for Former Immaculata School Site

Rendering of the 23-story senior housing component of the Immaculata site development
(Perkins Eastman, Level)

A new residential development is being proposed for the former Immaculata High School site at Irving Park and Marine Drive, now operating as the American Islamic College.

Developers KGiles LLC and CA Ventures are proposing a planned development that includes the rehabilitation of the historic Immaculata High School building, which was designed by Prairie School architect Barry Byrne and was built in 1921.

Aerial site plan showing main entry from Bittersweet
The existing buildings would be converted into 275 residential units with on-site amenities, all in accordance with the building's landmark status.

According to the proposed plans, a 23-story building would rise on what is now a parking lot. It would include 220 units of senior housing with a mix of independent, assisted, and memory-care units.

140 units of parking is planned.

As with any development, this will have to first navigate the local block club, Buena Park Neighbors.  After feedback from BPN, the development will proceed to a vote before the 46th Ward Zoning and Development Committee.

Immaculata High School closed in 1981. The property was sold to American Islamic College, and it has operated as a site for private schools ever since, including Park View Montessori School, Lycée Français de Chicago, and American Islamic College.

AIC opened in 1983, and is the owner and seller of the site.

Full details on the proposal can be found on Ald. Cappleman's website.

8 comments:

  1. Let me know when I can apply for residency! I graduated from The Immaculata in 1981. By the time this is built I will be ready for retirement.

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  2. At first glance this seems like a great addition to the nabe.

    I hope some version of it comes to pass and that I survive the coronavirus so I can see it built.

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  3. This made me laugh, because you couldn't pay me to return to my high school, and you want to live in yours. Different Strokes, I suppose.

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  4. Is there a city meeting to discuss this proposal?

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  5. While some of the Independent Living residents will have a car, the Assisted Living and Memory Care residents will not! Since there are 140 parking spaces proposed for 220 residential units, it sounds like we will keep or add to parking capacity the neighborhood needs, be saving a treasured architectural gem, and allowing Seniors to live on Lakeshore Drive, allowing those who are able to use public transportation. Perhaps a Senior Residential project is better than a high-end new build for affluent boomer retirees and millenials, more of whom need cars.

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  6. I support this 100%. This will be a great addition to the neighborhood. Glad to see they will preserve the historic portions of the school.

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  7. This is great. Good to see investment in the neighborhood. Also glad to hear the plan includes preserving the historic aspects of the school building. The bad dorm additions from the 60's can and should go.

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