Midrise development scheme proposed for Emanuel Congregation site

Chicago developer Fern Hill recently presented their plans for a midrise development scheme for the residential development at the site of Emanuel Congregation at 5959 N. Sheridan to the local community. Located along N. Sheridan Rd facing the lakefront, the project would redevelop the synagogue’s lakefront site as well as the vacant site on the west side of Sheridan Rd at 5950 N. Sheridan. The blue house to the north of the congregation’s site has now been acquired and its property will be incorporated into the development plan.

The development envisions building a new synagogue for the congregation that is right-sized and located at the southeast corner of the site to be close to the lakefront. The building, measuring approximately 16,000 square feet, would include a new sanctuary and worship space, classrooms, social halls, and admin space. The site’s access would be redone so the main access point is from the south off of W. Thorndale Ave to capitalize on the signaled intersection for vehicular traffic.

After considering 16 different massing options, the developer has come back to the community with the shortest building scheme, envisioning a 12-story midrise courtyard building on the main lakefront site and a five-story building on the inland site on the west side of N. Sheridan Rd. While the project’s unit count is still to be finalized, the project contemplates approximately 500 residential units and roughly 150 parking spaces. 

The scheme retains the Emanuel Congregation’s new building on the southeast corner of the site as previously planned and adds the 12-story building around it. Some retail space would be added at the corner of N. Sheridan Rd and W. Thorndale Ave on the ground floor with the majority of the ground floor set to have parking as well as loading space at the north end. 

The U-shape courtyard building will be organized around a central courtyard that features a motor court for pickups and drop-offs. The motor court is actually located on the second level of the building accessed via a ramp off W. Thorndale Ave and provides direct access to the Emanuel Congregation spaces as well as the main residential entry. 

To enable the mixed-use development on the lakefront site, the property at 5950 N. Sheridan on the west side of N. Sheridan Rd will be developed as a five-story mixed-use development. The building will have classrooms and a social hall space on the ground floor that will serve as the temporary home of the Emanuel Congregation while the lakefront site is being developed. The property will be served by a rear motor court accessed from the alley and seven parking spaces along the alley.  The upper four floors will have 56 residential units per plans shared during the community meeting. 

As the project moves forward, Fern Hill has submitted a zoning change request to 48th Ward Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth’s office, seeking a rezoning from RS-1 and RM-5.5 to a unified B3-5 with a Planned Development designation. If approved by the alderman, the development would proceed to seek formal city approvals from the Chicago Plan Commission, Committee on Zoning, and City Council. 

While the development scheme is not finalized, if it were to move forward as is, the building on the 5950 N. Sheridan property would be built first to provide temporary space for the Emanuel Congregation and would expect a 12-14 month construction process. After that building would get built, the main synagogue structure would be demolished and the new construction on the lakefront site could take approximately 15 months.