Edgewater Synagogue Plans 12-Story Development With 400 Units

Emanuel Congregation filed a zoning change request with the city Monday to build a 12-story mixed-use development that would add more than 400 apartments to Edgewater’s lakefront corridor while preserving the synagogue’s presence in the neighborhood.

The proposal calls for demolishing the current synagogue at 5959 N. Sheridan Road and constructing a new complex that includes ground-floor synagogue space, retail storefronts, and 11 floors of residential units. A second 12-story apartment building would rise across the street at 5940 N. Sheridan Road.

The development represents one of the largest residential projects proposed for Edgewater in recent years, adding density to a stretch of Sheridan Road that has seen steady redevelopment as Chicago grapples with housing shortages across multiple income levels.

“This project allows us to remain in the community we’ve served for decades while helping address Chicago’s need for more housing,” said Rabbi Michael Weinberg of Emanuel Congregation.

The zoning request seeks to change both properties from their current B3-2 commercial designation to a Planned Development that would permit the increased height and density. Under current zoning, the sites could accommodate roughly 60 residential units combined.

Emanuel Congregation has operated at the Sheridan Road location since 1959, when the Reform Jewish congregation moved north from its previous home in Albany Park. The current building, constructed in the 1960s, would be completely demolished under the redevelopment plan.

The proposed complex would include approximately 250 apartments in the synagogue building and 175 units in the structure across the street. Plans call for a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, though specific affordability requirements have not been finalized.

Ground-floor retail space totaling 8,000 square feet would front Sheridan Road in both buildings, potentially bringing new restaurants and services to a corridor that has struggled with vacant storefronts in recent years.

The development comes as local government officials across Chicago push for increased residential density near transit lines and lakefront areas. The Sheridan Road site sits three blocks from the Granville Red Line station and offers easy access to Lake Shore Drive.

Ward 48 Alderman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth said she has met with congregation leaders and neighborhood groups about the proposal but stopped short of endorsing the project.

“We need more housing in our community, but any development of this scale needs to fit the character of the neighborhood and address resident concerns about parking and traffic,” Manaa-Hoppenworth said.

The proposal faces potential opposition from some Edgewater residents who have fought previous high-rise developments along Sheridan Road, arguing that increased density strains parking and overwhelms local infrastructure.

Neighborhood group Edgewater United has scheduled a community meeting for February 15 to discuss the synagogue redevelopment and gather resident input before the proposal advances to the Chicago Plan Commission.

Emanuel Congregation’s development team includes Chicago-based Vermillion Development and architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz, which has designed several mixed-use projects in Lincoln Park and Lakeview.

The congregation plans to continue operating religious services and community programs throughout the construction process by relocating temporarily to nearby facilities. Construction would begin in late 2026 if the city approves the zoning change and building permits.

Similar faith-based redevelopment projects have gained traction across Chicago as congregations seek to monetize valuable real estate while maintaining their community presence. St. Alphonsus Church in Lakeview completed a similar mixed-use project in 2023, adding 180 apartments above a renovated worship space.

The Edgewater proposal requires approval from the Plan Commission and City Council, a process that typically takes six to nine months for projects of this size. Public hearings will provide opportunities for community input before any final vote.

The development would generate an estimated $2.3 million annually in property tax revenue for Chicago Public Schools and other local taxing bodies, according to preliminary calculations by the congregation’s development team.

Construction costs are projected at $180 million for both buildings combined, representing one of the largest private investments in Edgewater’s recent history.

The project moves forward as Chicago continues recovering from pandemic-era construction slowdowns that reduced new housing starts across the city. Mayor Brandon Johnson has identified increased residential development as a key component of his administration’s housing strategy.

If approved, the Emanuel Congregation development would join several other major residential projects planned for North Side lakefront neighborhoods, including a 200-unit complex proposed for Uptown and expanded senior housing in Rogers Park.

The Plan Commission will review the zoning request at its March meeting, with a potential City Council vote scheduled for April.