New parking lot planned by church

by BRIAN NADIG

A 30-space parking lot is being planned for the 444-seat Church in Chicago, 3915 W. Irving Park Road.

The lot would be located on the site of a former beauty industry school at 3901 W. Irving Park Road that was demolished. The parcel is across the street from Independence Park, 3945 N. Springfield Ave.

Plans call for the construction of a driveway behind the church that would connect a parking garage under the church to the outdoor parking lot, according Arena’s chief of staff Owen Brugh. There is no alley behind the church, but there is enough space to allow for a driveway that would run behind the church and an adjacent building that the church owns, Brugh said.

Vehicles would enter the parking lot from the driveway and would exit via two driveways on Springfield, a northbound-only street. The lot would have no driveways on Irving Park, but the existing parking garage is accessible from Irving Park.

The traffic pattern leading to and from the parking lot was designed to prevent church traffic from going through the neighborhood, Brugh said.

At Arena’s request, the Zoning Board of Appeals continued a hearing on the project at its April 17 meeting to its meeting on Friday, July 17, so that design changes in the configuration of the lot could be made. A special use permit from the zoning board is required for the project.

Arena held a community meeting on the project on June 15.