WOW! I want to live here!

I could never live there. The sacredness of the place would be too burdensome for me to ever feel truly comfortable. Can you imagine sipping on Belvedere while enjoying the greatest hits of 50 cent in there??? Can somebody say Guilt City???

Ummm, this is one of the worst church-to-home conversion jobs I've ever seen. Hopefully somebody who really appreciates the space and has money will acquire it and make use of all it's potential. What's with the horrible Japanese screens?

It appears that all they did was take out the Pews and the Pulpit and refinished the floors and painted the walls white...oh yeah and put in those tacky screens...LOL@conversion.

This would be great as a mission for the homeless, especially in such a cold city.

I saw this somewhere online a while back... it would be so much fun to restore:)

There's an old church on Western (just north of Chicago, I think) that has been rehabbed into condos- it looks very cool!

An interesting take on "excess". Of course nothing's more "green" than reusing existing buildings, but it this really the best use of all this area and volume?

Churches like this are best returned to some other public use until the community needs them again as worship space.

Imagine this as a community center; a small-business incubator; a senior center, or any number of other shared uses.

But a private residence? Not for me, thanks!

Its a beautiful space! I'd love to live there!

I love the idea because they're usually very well built with tons of architectural details. And if you find it a bit weird, they can be/are um...decommissioned by the associated religious authorities. I do think the inside of this one does need a bit more work, however.

I think the word is deconsecrated, MyName. :)

The library we go to was an old church. It is SO beautiful, and the children's section is up past where the pulpit must have been, in it's own sweet little nook. Which is awesome - the adults can't hear the kids, so while they still need to be polite, no one shooshes them like at the other library near us. The architecture is stunning, and it feels so cozy inside.

This is quite a common phenomena in the Northeast.

We have a lawyers office/cum residence two blocks way. He uses part of the space for a basketball court. It is landscaped beautifully on the outside.

What do you suggest-a reverential eyesore going to seed and slumdom.

How many neighborhoods would allow zoning for a homeless shelter, especially if they were upscale?

I have seen them turned into photography studios, record stores and garden centers.

"Of course the first thing I'd probably do is roller skate around the first floor." haha, yeah

I 'm glad they haven't done that much with the space, as they seem not to have a good eye for interior design at all. That leaves it almost untouched for the next owner who will hopefully bring this wonderful 'house' to it's full potential.

Perhaps we'll be seeing this again on AT when it has been lovingly done up by a new owner? ;o)

I like to think the current owners are in transition and that's why the decor is so ...interesting. If you are doing the open floor plan thing, don't feel so anchored by walls for furniture placement.

Replace the japanese screens with vintage doors from an architectural salvage place.

A homeless shelter, a library, a community center, all good ideas. I see an artist's or multiple artist studio.

I hope whoever makes the purchase uses it for the common good (agreed with the shelter/library/community center ideas). It's a lovely space though, regardless. :)

I live in a 1400sf bungalow and the heating bill is crazy in the Chicago winter. I could imagine what imagine what that bill would be in this place. I could also imagine myself selling my cars and motorcycle to pay for it because it is a beuty!

Coolest idea for a building ever! The architectural details that made it a good church would make it a good almost-anything-else too! It could make a great home / office.

As for the decor and limited remodel, the real estate folks might just be trying to leave it as bare as possible for the new owners to customize.

Another idea: Perhaps you might not want to live in an actual converted church, but now I see that the architecture could be great inspiration! I love airy, bright homes and never thought to look at old church architecture for ideas on how to achieve that look--but now I think I will!

I live not too far away from this reformed church! There are many like this out here in Chicago, it would be a dream of mine to live there! Now if only I could convince my husband!

i have always wanted to live in a converted church. why? don't know but something about it kinda speaks to me.

and @MadeItToTheMoon i live down the street from the conversion on western near chicago and it does look pretty cool.

wow.

I kinda like it. For 699, that's a killer deal. There is a church for sale here in SF that was listed at 8 million. I think it's since been reduced to 6 million after several years on the market and still no takers. Here in SF you can barely even get a decent 2 bedroom for 699.

Someone buy it and nail The Ninety-Five Theses of Maxwell to the door. Oh, and ditch the screens

Split 2-ways, $699,000 is a steal.

Beautiful but I couldn't live there. Being Christian I wouldn't feel right lounging around in my pajamas in a house of God.

I can't believe your real estate prices in the U.S!
That property in Australia (Melbourne) would be between $1-2Million, easy!

I agree with the comments about personal comfort. How could you curse if you accidentally hurt yourself? What if you ever forgot to say your nightly prayers? What if you wanted to BE NAUGHTY? Oh man... I couldn't do it, myself.

This house screams "rollerskates"

I love the idea but I cant imagine anyone spending that kind of money to live in Humbolt Park.

Hmm ... with so many churches on the market nowadays this just speaks to people's lessening need for religious crutches. In any case if you are a true Christian God is everywhere not just in a place that used to have pews. Also church buildings change purposes/religious sects all the time so this becoming a home should be no different. I wouldn't feel weird living there but that's just me. I'd feel weird living there as is because right now it doesn't have a very residential feel.

there is a cute white church for sale in my hometown and everytime I drive past I dream of how I would decorate and restore it.
only problem is the cemetary taking up the back yard!!!

I looked at buying this particular church (yes, because I'm evil and would want it for a private residence), but unfortunately it has been all but gutted of all the original details that would have made me want it.

i live right around the corner from here and always walked by and wondered whether it was a residence.

imy heart's set on the rectory next door. it has a spiral staircase!

Lol. I think if God existed, he's already seen you in your pajamas and should get joy from seeing you lounge around.

Getting a kick out of the whole "I couldn't do _______ in a former church" thing.

I'm pretty sure God is supposed to be omniscient, so it doesn't really matter where you do it - he's gonna see, so you'd better be good! Better not cry! Better not pout, I'm telling you why! ;)

I think it's a great idea and the building is beautiful. However, I hate what they've done with the space.

Instead of taking advantage of the space, everything has been pushed against the walls.

And Japanese screens? For real?

Hopefully whoever buys this will do something great with it. Community center, art gallery, dance studio... or just make it an attractive and creative home. Can't wait to see what happens!

@julieelizabeth I was wondering why no one had brought that whole 'not a great neighborhood' thing up yet.

I'm not really religious and I could not live there. Awkward!