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

N

Nudist Batt

Chicago developer Fern Hill is teaming up with the over 70-year-old Emanuel Congregation synagogue to overhaul its property at 5959 N. Sheridan Road, transforming it into a mixed-use development that includes housing, retail space, and apartments.

The new design proposes a 12-story U-shaped building that would house the synagogue's chapel, sanctuary, and social halls, as well as commercial space and parking for Emanuel members. The building will also feature a circular motor court for pickup and drop-offs, creating more parking spaces for the congregation and the surrounding neighborhood.

A separate five-story building on the west side of Sheridan Road will also be constructed, featuring apartments and event and classroom spaces. This shorter building is expected to take at least 12 months to complete and will serve as a temporary synagogue while the main building is being built.

Fern Hill has committed to including 80 affordable units in the development under the city's Affordable Requirements Ordinance, which means that apartments will be available for those earning an average of 60% of the area median income. This translates to an annual income of $71,940 for a family of four.

The retail space at ground level will offer expansive views of Lake Michigan and can accommodate cafes or other functions that align with the synagogue's mission. The project aims to create a synergistic relationship between the synagogue's activities and the surrounding neighborhood.

While some congregation members have expressed concerns about the plans, including traffic congestion on Sheridan Road and security concerns, Fern Hill emphasizes that this is an iterative process meant to elicit comments and feedback from Emanuel members and the broader community.
 
😊 so i'm low-key excited about this project! first of all, the design for the 12-story building is pretty cool - the u-shape makes it seem way more interesting than a traditional straight-up high-rise. plus, having the synagogue's chapel & sanctuary right in the middle is gonna be awesome, and i love that they're not sacrificing any of that character to make room for commercial space. 🏙️

but what really gets me is the whole affordable unit thing - 80 units at 60% AMI? that's huge! it shows Fern Hill is committed to making this development actually benefit the community, not just some fly-by-night scheme. and let's be real, those views of Lake Michigan from the retail space are gonna make for some sick Instagram pics 😎

as for the concerns about traffic & security... yeah, they're valid, but i think it's cool that Fern Hill is making a point to involve the community in this process - we should totally get our feedback and help shape what this project becomes 🗣️
 
I'm skeptical about this project 🤔... I mean, 80 affordable units sounds good on paper, but we've seen plenty of promises like this before that don't quite live up to reality 📝. And what's with the temporary synagogue? That just seems like a band-aid solution to me 💉. Plus, traffic congestion and security concerns are valid worries - Sheridan Road can get pretty crazy during rush hour 🚗. Still, I guess it's worth giving Fern Hill the benefit of the doubt... we'll see how this all shakes out in the end 👀.
 
OMG, I remember when the city used to be all about preserving its old buildings and neighborhoods... now it's like they're just tearing them down and putting up high-rise developments everywhere! 🤯 Still, this project doesn't look so bad, I guess. Having an affordable unit or two will help keep some families in the area. But what happened to the good ol' days when synagogues were standalone buildings with beautiful architecture? This new design just looks like a generic glass tower... I mean, I'm sure it'll be all functional and stuff, but it's just not the same as the historic Emanuel Congregation building on Sheridan Road 🏛️.
 
omg its like they wanna destroy the synagogue lol just kidding kinda think its cool that they're trying to make it work with the neighborhood tho the idea of having a separate temporary synagogue for a year is genius idk how they're gonna handle traffic but at least they're listening to ppl's concerns 💡
 
😊🏛️ I think this new project sounds like a great idea! 🤩 They're gonna have some awesome shops and restaurants on the ground floor 👀 and it'll be really cool to see the synagogue's chapel and sanctuary all lit up at night ✨. And yay for affordable housing 🏠, that's so important for the community. I do hope they can make sure there's enough parking spots though 🚗, I've seen those lines getting crazy on Sheridan Road during rush hour 🚫. But overall, it sounds like a win-win for everyone involved 🙌. Can't wait to see how it all comes together! 👀
 
omg, can you even imagine how awesome it's gonna be when they finish this project? i mean, a mixed-use development with affordable housing, retail space, and apartments? it's like, the perfect blend of functionality and community spirit 🤩🏠. and the fact that fern hill is committed to including 80 affordable units is like, a major win for the neighborhood, you know? they're all about creating a synergistic relationship between the synagogue's activities and the surrounding neighborhood... which means more options for people to get involved and connect with their community 🌟👥. of course, there might be some hiccups along the way (traffic congestion, security concerns...), but fern hill is keeping it open and inclusive, which is totally on point 💕.
 
I'm a bit worried about this development, you know? They're planning to tear down the old synagogue building that's been around for over 70 years 🤔. I mean, can't they just restore it or something instead of demolishing it? The proposed design looks nice and all, but what's wrong with preserving some of that history? And 80 affordable units is a good start, I guess, but how will they make sure those apartments don't get snapped up by investors who only care about the profit? 🤑

And have you seen the plans for parking? A circular motor court? It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie 🚀. Seriously though, this development is gonna bring in more people and traffic to the neighborhood, which could be a problem. Maybe they should've done some more research on how it'll affect the community before moving forward with it? 🤷‍♀️
 
OMG, can you believe it? Some people are gonna freak out 'bout the new build... like, I get it, change sucks, but think of all the new opportunities! 🤩 They're adding affordable housing, which is a big deal, especially with Lake Michigan views, can't beat that. And those event spaces are gonna be lit for synagogue events and community gatherings. I'm actually kinda stoked to see this mixed-use development come together, gotta keep things fresh in the neighborhood 😊.
 
I'm mixed about this development 🤔. On one hand, I think it's awesome that they're preserving a historic synagogue while incorporating modern amenities, like affordable housing and retail space 🏠💼. It'll definitely bring in some new energy to the neighborhood and provide opportunities for community events. But, at the same time, I'm worried about the impact on traffic on Sheridan Road 🚗😬 - it's already a busy road with a lot of schools, shops, and services nearby. And what about parking? The circular motor court is supposed to create more spaces, but I've seen how quickly those things get full when there's an event or festival in the area... might be a nightmare 🤦‍♀️. Still, it's great that Fern Hill is listening to community feedback and trying to find solutions 🗣️ - fingers crossed everything works out!
 
I was thinking of getting a new bike and I saw the cutest little store in my neighborhood that sells those tiny road bikes 🚴‍♀️. They have these adorable little accessories too, like bell-shaped bottle openers and bike-shaped keychains. I'm not sure if they'd be worth buying, but it's always fun to browse through quirky shops.

I wonder what the synagogue members think about having a circular motor court for pickup and drop-offs... do you think it would make sense in a 12-story building? 🤔
 
🚨 bad news 🚨 Chicago's synagogue renovation project just got a major setback... or did it? Apparently, some Emanuel Congregation synagogue members are freaking out about the traffic congestion on Sheridan Road, which might be a legit concern since they're already expecting a huge influx of cars from the new development. But let's be real, 12-story buildings and circle parking courts aren't gonna make themselves 🤯 On the bright side, there will be some affordable housing units for those earning below $71k a year, which is actually kinda awesome. Maybe it'll even bring some cool cafes to the area? Fingers crossed! 😒
 
I'm kinda worried about how much traffic congestion we'll get with all those new ppl movin in around 5959 N. Sheridan Road 🤔. I got kids who need to get dropped off at school & picked up, it's already a pain now, imagine if there's more cars on the road! 🚗💨 Can't Fern Hill think of a way to make it easier for people like me? We gotta consider the community, not just the synagogue members 💕
 
idk why they're still building stuff in that neighborhood, its already crazy busy 🤯. but i guess its cool that fern hill is working with emmanuel cong on this new project... 80 affordable units tho? thats a good start, hopefully more developers take note of the ordinance 🤑. gotta say, the design looks pretty sleek and modern, cant wait to see how it all comes together 👍.
 
idk why they cant just keep the old building like a lot of ppl in chicago are worried about losing their sense of community 🤷‍♂️ but at the same time its cool that fern hill is gonna include affordable units i feel like chicago needs more housing options and this could be a good start 👍 also i hope those cafes on the ground level can actually make it happen 📚
 
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