Vision for new synagogue in Edgewater with housing, retail takes shape

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SparkAlpha

A Chicago developer is working to revitalize the historic Emanuel Congregation synagogue on the city's lakefront, with plans for a mixed-use complex that includes housing, retail space, and a new chapel. The 36-story tower in Old Town has already been a source of controversy, but this latest project aims to breathe new life into a neglected site.

Fern Hill, the developer behind the Old Town tower, is partnering with Emanuel Congregation to create a 12-story U-shaped building that will serve as the synagogue's new home. The building will include chapel and sanctuary space, social halls, and offices for the congregation. On the west side of Sheridan Road, there will be a five-story building with apartments and event and classroom spaces.

The complex will also feature expansive retail space below the synagogue, offering stunning views of Lake Michigan. Fern Hill plans to offer 80 affordable units under the city's Affordable Requirements Ordinance, making it accessible to low-income families earning around $71,940 per year.

Traffic concerns and security issues were raised during a virtual meeting with the congregation, but Fern Hill's lead developer Andrew Degenholtz emphasized that the design is still evolving. The company aims to elicit comments and feedback from members of Emanuel Congregation and the broader community before making any final decisions.

Construction on the project will be phased, starting with the five-story building on the west side of Sheridan Road, which will serve as a temporary synagogue while the main building is constructed.
 
this sounds like a total game changer for old town chicago... i mean, who wouldn't want to see a new chapel and some dope retail space along lake michigan 🌊🏙️? and that affordable housing is a major win too - low-income families will finally have some options in the area. of course there's gotta be some concerns about traffic and security, but fern hill seems like they're taking it super seriously and wanting to make sure everyone's on board before breaking ground 🤝. i'm actually kinda stoked that this project is pushing forward - chicago could use a little more vibrancy in old town 😊
 
Ugh, another Chicago landmark getting destroyed by gentrification 🤕. Can't they just leave that old synagogue alone? The thought of a 36-story tower ruining the historic Emanuel Congregation's vibe is already giving me nightmares 😩. And now they're going to displace long-time residents with affordable housing units priced at like, what, $71k a year? That's not exactly "affordable" if you ask me 🤑. I mean, don't get me wrong, more people need places to live, but is this really the best way to do it? And what about the community's feedback on traffic and security concerns? They just brushed it off like they're above all that drama 💁‍♀️. I'm just waiting for the construction chaos to start... 🚧
 
I'm all for reviving historic spaces like this! It's awesome that Fern Hill is working to create something beautiful and functional in Old Town 🌆💡. The affordable units are a great touch too - it shows they care about making this place accessible to everyone, regardless of income 💸.

I'm not sure about the 36-story tower though... it does look pretty imposing, but I guess that's just part of the area's history 🤔. Still, the idea of having a community-driven space like a new chapel and social halls is really exciting 🏛️. Let's hope they can make it work and bring some life to this neglected site! 😊
 
I think it's dope to save that old synagogue! I mean, it's already got a lot of history and character, but if they can make it more accessible and modern, that'd be awesome. 80 affordable units is a nice touch too - low-income families deserve a place to call home. But I gotta wonder how the chapel and sanctuary spaces are gonna work out... like, will it still feel spiritual or just, you know, a fancy event space? 🤔🏠
 
🌆💡 I'm low-key excited about this old town chicago thing! 🤔 they're making that Emanuel Congregation synagogue all new & fancy 😍 36 story tower is gonna be lit 💃 and affordable units for low income fams is a big win 👏 can't wait to see it come together 🕰️ traffic and security concerns are valid tho 🚨👮‍♀️ hope they figure out the logistics ASAP 💻 construction is phasing so no huge rush 🙅‍♂️ 80 units under affordable requirements is a step in right direction 📈 wish them luck 💪
 
I think it's awesome that Fern Hill is teaming up with Emanuel Congregation to breathe some life into this historic site 🤩. The idea of affordable housing and retail space is super cool, especially if it means making the building more accessible to low-income families 🌈. I mean, $71,940 per year is a decent income for many people, but affordability is key, right? 😊 It's interesting that traffic concerns were raised, but I guess phasing construction and using the existing five-story building as a temporary synagogue is a smart move ⏱️. Can't wait to see how this project turns out! 🎉
 
🤔 I'm all for revitalizing old buildings like this one, but 80 affordable units might not go far enough. I mean, $71,940 per year is already pretty high, and Chicago's rent prices are crazy 🤑. What about the people who can't afford even that? They'll probably be priced out by gentrification again. Still, it's better than nothing, right? Maybe this project will bring in some new businesses and create jobs for locals... or maybe it'll just drive up prices and push out long-time residents 🤷‍♂️. Either way, I guess it's worth keeping an eye on the situation to see how it all plays out 💡.
 
omg i'm so down for this renovation project! can you imagine being able to attend services and events in such an iconic building with lake michigan views 🌊✨? fern hill's idea of offering affordable units is super cool too - it's gonna be a game changer for low-income families. i know some ppl were worried about traffic and security, but it sounds like the devs are listening to concerns & adjusting their design. let's hope this project comes together smoothly! 🤞🏽
 
You know I'm always excited when I see old buildings being given new life 🌞🏛️... I mean, I was walking along Lake Michigan once and passed by that Old Town tower, and it's crazy to think about how big it is! I remember thinking it was like a skyscraper out of place among all the other historic buildings. But now, seeing it get transformed into something new and beautiful with that synagogue project? That's what makes me happy 😊... I'm curious to see how it all turns out, but at least they're trying to make sure everyone has a say in the design process. 80 affordable units is a great move too 🙌... can't wait to see those apartments go up and know that some low-income families will have a place to call home 💕
 
I'm so excited about this project! 🤩 It's amazing to see a historic site like Emanuel Congregation being revitalized and brought back to life. The idea of having affordable housing options for low-income families is really great too, especially with the average income requirement being around $71,940 per year. It's not going to make or break anyone who needs it, that's for sure. 💸 I'm curious to see how the final design turns out and what kind of response they get from the community. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly and everyone is happy with the end result! 🤞
 
OMG 🤯 this is gonna be so lit!! I mean can u imagine walking into that new chapel and feeling all the history & vibes?! 😍 the U-shaped building sounds super cool too, like a giant hug for the community! 👫 but seriously, 80 affordable units? that's amazing!!! Fern Hill needs to keep pushing for more cuz we need affordable housing like that in Chicago 🤞 also, those views of Lake Michigan are gonna be EVERYTHING 🌊🏙️ I'm low-key hyped for this project and can't wait to see the progress! 👀
 
🤔 just saw this link about the Chicago developer revamping that old synagogue on lakefront and i'm low-key excited about it! like, who wouldn't want to see some new life in an old historic spot? and the fact they're making 80 affordable units for low-income families is a huge plus 🙌

but also got me thinking... what's up with the traffic and security concerns though? like, how are they planning on handling all that chaos during construction? 🚧👀

anyway, can't wait to see this project come together! 💪
 
I'm so down for this renovation 🤩, it's about time that Emanuel Congregation gets some TLC. I mean, that old tower in Old Town has been a part of Chicago's history, but it looks like it needs an upgrade, you know? The idea of having affordable units and social spaces is genius 🤝. It's not just about the congregation, but also about the community coming together. And I'm loving the idea of having some retail space with those sick views of Lake Michigan 😎. Let's hope they can address some of those traffic concerns, though. Can't wait to see how it all comes together 🤞.
 
🤔 This whole thing got me thinking, you know? It's not just about saving an old synagogue or tearing it down for some fancy skyscraper. It's about what we value in our community 🌆. Are we all about preserving history and tradition, or are we open to change and progress? The fact that Fern Hill is working with Emanuel Congregation on this project shows they're willing to listen and adapt to the community's needs.

It also made me think about what it means to be inclusive 🤝. With 80 affordable units, they're making an effort to bring low-income families into the area. That's not always easy, especially when there are concerns about traffic and security. But I guess that's just part of the conversation we need to have 💬. What do you think is more important: preserving the old or creating a better future for everyone? 🤷‍♂️
 
omg i no like that they gonna raze old Emanuel Congregation bldg its sooo historic 🤯🏛️ i mean i get that de velopers wanna bring in new life but cant they jus preserve the old thing? 🤷‍♀️ 80 affordable units tho is a lil more likable dey doin 😊
 
I gotta say, this whole project has me thinking about gentrification and how it affects communities 🤔. On one hand, revitalizing a historic site like Emanuel Congregation synagogue is awesome – it's a huge part of Chicago's history and culture ❤️. But at the same time, we gotta be careful not to push out long-time residents or small businesses in the area. I mean, 80 affordable units are a good start, but what about the rest of the community? We need to make sure that the benefits of this project aren't just going to a select few 🤑.

And can we talk about security concerns for a sec? A 36-story tower and a new synagogue in Old Town is already a lot to handle – I don't want to imagine the stress of living in a complex with that much height 🚨. But hey, at least the developers are taking feedback from the community seriously, so fingers crossed they'll get it right 👍.
 
I'm still skeptical about this whole thing 🤔... I mean, it's great that they're trying to revitalize the site and make it more accessible, but have you seen the tower already? 36 stories in Old Town? That's like a giant eyesore staring down Lake Michigan 🌊. And now they're adding another building right next door? It's gonna be crazy busy on Sheridan Road during rush hour, can't imagine how much traffic it'll cause 😩. I hope they're really listening to the congregation and community feedback before they make any final decisions... 80 affordable units is a good start tho 🙏, at least something for the locals!
 
I gotta say, I'm loving this whole revitalization vibe they're bringing to Emanuel Congregation! 80 affordable units? That's some solid progress towards making that historic space more inclusive. But, let's be real, can we talk about traffic concerns for a sec? I mean, Sheridan Road is already notorious for being congested... how are they gonna mitigate those issues without sacrificing the whole vibe of the area? I'm all about progress, but also wanna make sure they're not just gonna add to the chaos. Maybe some smart design features or transportation solutions would really make this project pop 🤔💡
 
this is so cool i mean, who doesnt love a good old town revival 🤩 theyre gonna turn this historic site into a hub of activity and get all those low-income fams living there which is super nice of fern hill to offer affordable units 💸 i just hope they can tackle the traffic concerns tho idk how theyll make it work with 36 stories already looming over the city 🌆
 
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