Is It Really Harder to Restore a Church in Chicago Than Build a City in China?
Developer John Liu is learning firsthand just how difficult it can be to restore a church in Chicago. He's been hard at work for two years reviving Shiloh Baptist Church and is still awaiting permits to convert it into 13 three-story townhomes. Liu, who builds cities in China as the head of Hyde Park Capital, told DNAInfo he could've finished the entire project in eight months in China. Over there it's all about money. Here, he's had to win over neighbors, woo the alderman, and follow the rules of the Kenwood Historic District. The 13 townhomes will surround a central garden courtyard, and cost between $850k and $1.2M. They'll range from 2,800 SF to 4,200 SF. Once the permits are complete, Liu estimates it will take six to eight months to finish construction. Liu purchased the Solon Spencer Beman-designed church in 2014 for $650k. [DNAInfo]
