Built in 1917 St. Stephen’s Church in Chicago has a rich history. Initially the Tenth Church of Christ Scientist it mirrored Boston’s First Church of Christ Scientist. That church was inspired by the White House and the Vatican. Imagine the grandeur. St. Stephen’s was a stunning alabaster structure.
In the late 1960s a small Black congregation took over. They renamed it St. Stephen’s. This group remained until the late 1990s. Then they sold the 15000 square foot property to Konstantinos Antoniou. He envisioned a condo development.
This sparked a lengthy conflict. It pitted the developer against the neighborhood. Legal battles and foreclosure proceedings ensued. The specifics height density and historic preservation were points of contention. Heartland Bank and Trust Co now owns the property.
For years St. Stephen’s stood abandoned. Overgrown and with broken windows it became a local eyesore. Break-ins were common. The building posed safety hazards. The limestone facade however still gleamed. It hinted at the church’s former glory.
Antoniou’s plans involved preserving that facade. He wanted to incorporate it into his condo design. But disagreements and financial setbacks plagued the project. The church remains a symbol of unrealized potential. It represents a protracted battle between progress and preservation. A story of a community clashing with development plans. It stands as a testament to the complexities of urban renewal in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. The future of St. Stephen’s remains uncertain. Will it be restored to its former glory Or will it be demolished? Only time will tell.