EAST VILLAGE — Work is underway on seven new condominiums coming to a stretch of Damen Avenue in the East Village neighborhood just south of Wicker Park.
Expected to be complete this spring, "The Damen Place" at 1046 N. Damen Ave. offers seven condos, which will replace a church at 1042 N. Damen Ave. that was demolished in March.
Billed in an online listing as a "stunning yellow brick structure," the church was bought in October for $531,000 by real estate developer Volodymyr Barabakh, 27, owner of BM International Builders.
"It was an old building, it was for sale, we see opportunity. ... It was not functioning as a church, not in good condition, that's why we bought it," Barabakh said.
Once home to the Primera Iglesia Bautista Fundamental congregation, the church — built in 1898 — was not listed in a database of significantly historical buildings maintained by the city.
A work permit dated March 25 listed the estimated cost of the condo project as $894,500 and described "The Damen Place" as a seven-unit masonry building with two detached four-car garages with roof decks, a masonry trash enclosure and solar panels.
Designed by architect John Hanna, the building's front facade would be glass and wood, Barabakh said.
Barabakh said the first floor would offer three three-bedroom duplexes, while the second and third floors would house two two-bedroom simplexes each.
Other recent West Town real estate projects by Barabakh's firm include 622 N. Ashland Ave.; 1447 W. Fry St.; 1611 W. Erie St.; and 1936 W. Armitage Ave. in Bucktown.
Karen Biazar, a Realtor from Wicker Park's North Clybourn Group, will sell the units, which will start at around $449,000 for the four simplex two-bedroom condos. The three, three-bedroom duplexes, which include basements, will start at $559,000.