Wilmette synagogue for sale presents redevelopment potential

A Wilmette religious organization is praying that it lands a buyer as part of a downsizing effort and presenting a tempting redevelopment opportunity right along the Edens Expressway and Glenview Road.

Beth Hillel Congregation Bnai Emunah has hired SVN Chicago Commercial to sell the 4.8-acre property at 3220 Big Tree Lane, which includes a 54,000-square-foot building, the Record North Shore reported.

While an official asking price has not been revealed, the listing offers the potential to rethink the property’s use, though would likely require a zoning change to allow any new dense commercial elements.

The property, currently zoned for single-family housing, is situated in a heavily trafficked location. The building includes classrooms, multi-purpose spaces, a main sanctuary, offices and gathering areas, and the site also has 148 parking spaces, a playground and a garden.

Beth Hillel is open to a wide range of proposals within the property’s zoning classification. SVN’s Wayne Caplan, who’s managing the sale, expects the listing to draw interest from developers looking to repurpose the site and potential users of the existing building, he told the outlet.

The decision to sell comes as the congregation aims to find a more suitable and modern space for its evolving needs. Despite the listing, the congregation emphasizes that it will remain “active and vibrant.”

“The most important thing is the congregation is not closing. … We need a more right-sized building for our needs,” Michael Kahn, the congregation’s executive director, told the outlet. “The facility was built over 60 years ago. What we need today is very different than what we needed then.”

Beth Hillel, founded in 1958, has seen a decrease in its membership over the years, dropping from 1,000 to just over 300 families currently. To better align with its needs, the congregation is seeking a facility of around 12,000 to 15,000 square feet.

While there haven’t been many church sales in the Chicago area to compare to, a Jewish elementary school bought the former St. Timothy’s parish in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood for $2.95 million last year.

— Quinn Donoghue

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