MOUNT GREENWOOD — St. Christina Parish is planning a major addition to its school as well as other changes to its facilities in Mount Greenwood.
The $4.9 million investment in the parish at 11005 S. Homan Ave. was announced earlier this month in the church bulletin and is posted on St. Christina's website.
The improvements include the addition of four new classrooms, a new wooden floor in the gym and a new entrance to the Catholic elementary school. The building on Homan Avenue — just south of the rectory — will also be demolished, allowing the parking lot to be repositioned.
Plans also show the addition of a parish garden, a new meeting room, new windows in the ministry center and incorporating the school's administrative offices into the more secure entryway.
The demolition of a building on Homan Avenue — just south of the rectory — will allow St. Christina Parish to re-position its parking lot and make way for an expansion to the school, according to architectural drawings posted in the church bulletin. [DNAinfo/Supplied Illustration]
The Rev. Thomas P. Conde spoke briefly about the renovations after Mass on Jan. 1, saying the announcement was made during the Christmas season to reach a large volume of parishioners. The pastor declined an opportunity to further discuss the details of the plan.
The Archdiocese of Chicago's "To Teach Who Christ Is Campaign" seems to have served as the impetus for the expansion effort. Similar improvements have been tied to this same archdiocesan fundraising campaign at St. Barnabas and Christ the King parishes in neighboring Beverly.
"We have worked closely with parish leadership and our architect partners to create an effective solution to current space constraints," the announcement from St. Christina read.
Four new classrooms are being proposed for St. Christina Parish in Mount Greenwood, according to an announcement made earlier this month in the church bulletin. The school will also add a new entrance with improved security features. [DNAinfo/Supplied Illustration]
Religious education students will also use the classrooms built as part of the addition, and a meeting room included as part of the improvements could be converted into a classroom if needed, the announcement said.
A new hallway will connect the new building to the existing school as well as the gym and church. This is also expected to eliminate the “wet shoe” problem for the gym, according to the announcement, which further pointed to a similar fundraising effort last summer that successfully replaced the windows in the school.
More information on the expansion effort is expected later this year.
"These changes will provide much-needed new gathering spaces and classrooms, a long-desired updated gymnasium, and a safer, more efficient parking lot. In short, they will help our parish meet the needs of all parishioners and students, creating an even greater sense of home and family," the announcement said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
