LINCOLN PARK — The historic Hermon Baptist Church went under contract Monday morning, according to the property's listing agent.
A developer has signed a contract to buy the 5,500-square-foot church at 1754 N. Clark St., confirmed the property's listing agent, Scott Siegel with Jennings Realty Inc.
Since the deal is in its early stages, the developer's plans were not immediately available.
The church went on the market in late December for $3.25 million — down from $6.5 million just a few years ago.
According to the church's website, Hermon Baptist, named after a mountain outside Jerusalem, was founded by 13 African-American domestic workers who cooked and cleaned for Chicago's Gold Coast residents. Tiring of traveling to the South Side for church services, they launched Hermon.
The property's original owner, Robert Edson, sold the land to the Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem in 1875. It wasn't until 1904 that the group sold the property to the folks behind Hermon Baptist Church, which has remained there ever since.
The site is currently zoned for up to four stories of multi-unit housing, which means repurposing the building would require a zoning change approved by Ald. Michele Smith (43rd).
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
