Before leaving the city yesterday afternoon for the holiday weekend, I had one last showing to do. My buyers wanted to see 2445 North Washtenaw in Logan Square. It was a property to remember, and I’d be remiss if I did not sit down to write.
Allow me to set the scene: From the outside, this house looks just like a church. That’s because it used to be one. Upon construction in 1888, the congregation was the Hungarian Catholic Church of St. Emetic, only to become the St. Gedwig Mission Church in 1939. By the mid-1990s, the owners converted the church into a residence, preserving majestic details and creating a truly spectacular piece of real estate — complete with a bell tower on top.
The inside of 2445 North Washtenaw took my breath away. There are original stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings, ornamental moldings and massive wooden beams. The pulpit has been replaced by a roaring fireplace, and a modern kitchen lives where the confessionals might have been. In the back, you’ll find the master bedroom, and there are two lofted rooms tucked away in the ceiling’s scissor trusses. Below the owner-occupied floor, there is an income-producing rental unit and artistic studio space, as well as a two-car garage and porch.
This church-turned-home is on Chicago’s “Orange List,” denoting its architectural significance. Priced at $1,200,000 and sitting on 2.5 city lots, the property covers about 5,500 square feet. It is voluminous and very, very special.
I felt especially struck by this place — not only as a realtor, but also as a Christian. Much of my story has been impacted by the local church, so it was surreal to show a building that once unified and equipped other believers.
If you’re interested in a private showing, please send me an email. I’d happily go back.
