Senior apartments envisioned for West Ridge's St. Scholastica Monastery

In West Ridge, the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago are hoping a zone change will help sell a portion of its 14.5-acre St. Scholastica Monastery campus at 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard to a senior housing developer.

No buyer has come forward, but real estate consultants working on behalf of the monastic Roman Catholic community believe a 3-acre piece of the property could support a four- to five-story independent living facility with between 80 and 100 apartments.

The Benedictine Sisters have been in Chicago since the mid-1800s, but the group's numbers have declined. The sisters see the proposed independent living development as an opportunity to house its aging membership as well as other seniors living in the surrounding community.

"Our building at one point housed close to 200 women and now we're in the mid-20s and our median age is in the low 80s," said Sister Judith Murphy at a Monday night virtual community meeting hosted by Ald. Maria Hadden (49th). "If we can find a developer to buy the property from us and build, own, and operate a senior housing facility ... It would be a win-win for us and the neighborhood."

A conceptual site plan prepared for the sisters by OKW Architects envisions the new structure at the north end of the St. Scholastica campus. The plan also calls for 134 parking spaces with primary vehicular access from Ridge Road but could include a western connection to Oakley Avenue. 

The property's existing school, infirmary, and historic chapel would not be affected, but a two-story residential building and a community garden would be demolished. A portion of the running track along the western edge of the property will need to be realigned to make room for the proposed development.

The site at 7430 N. Ridge is currently zoned for charitable educational/institutional uses under an existing Planned Development that would need to be amended to allow a senior living facility. The amendment would trigger the city's Affordable Requirement Ordinance and require any potential developer to provide a percentage of below-market-rate apartments. 

The sisters hope to secure the zoning amendment from the city to help market the site to potential buyers. "Once this additional use is added to this particular parcel, it will allow [the sisters] to start shopping around for developers," explained Ald. Hadden. 

"We're not considering any particular development right now, the details aren't there at this time," Hadden added. "We are being asked to consider how we feel about allowing [the senior living] use on this property." The alderwoman said her office will continue to collect feedback about the plan and will soon distribute an online survey to the community.