Emanuel/Fern Hill Redevelopment Progress Community Meeting Thurs. May 28 6:30pm
This is a community meeting announced in Alderwoman’s Weekly posted on May 15, 2026, from Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth’s office about the proposed development on Sheridan Road.
Emanuel Congregation/Fern Hill Redevelopment Community Meeting
When: Thursday, May 28 at 6:30pm
Where: Emanuel Congregation (5959 N Sheridan)
Register online <– Please Note: This is an IN PERSON meeting only – No Zoom Access
Join us to learn about revisions to the proposed Emanuel Congregation synagogue redevelopment plans. This meeting is an opportunity for neighbors to hear directly from the development team, ask questions, and provide feedback on the revised plans that were presented on April 30 at the public congregation meeting. Our online public feedback form below will be open for two weeks after the May 28 community meeting.
Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth’s Office
Agnes Chan – Director of Planning and Infrastructure
Online public feedback contact form can be used after Thurs. May 28: https://the48thward.org/zoning-feedback-form
If you wish to email Fern Hill and/or Emanuel Congregation:
Nick Anderson
Developer – Fern Hill Company
edgewater@fernhillcompany.com
Emanuel Congregation
www.emanuelcong.org/building-project
Sheridan & Bryn Mawr Water Main Replacement
The Department of Water Management (DWM) will be replacing the water main along the north side of Bryn Mawr from Kenmore to Sheridan and along the west side of Sheridan from Bryn Mawr to Foster. This project is a $2.8 million investment to replace water main pipes that are over 120 years old.
The project will be completed in two phases:
- Phase 1: Replacement of the water main on the north side of Bryn Mawr from Kenmore to Sheridan is estimated to start June 1st and estimated to be done by mid-June.
- Phase 2: Replacement of the water main on the west side of Sheridan from Bryn Mawr to Foster is estimated to begin mid-June and estimated to be complete by September.
Partial lane closures are anticipated eastbound on Bryn Mawr from Kenmore to Sheridan in Phase 1 and southbound on Sheridan in Phase 2. About 200 ft of street in one lane will be closed at a time as DWM digs, replaces pipe, and backfills with concrete. Please expect some traffic congestion. No full street closures are expected at this time.
As part of this project, DWM will do lead service line replacement on the one lead service line in the project area. After the water main work is complete, restoration will occur, including any curb that may have been impacted by the project. Following restoration, we anticipate full resurfacing of Sheridan curb-to-curb from Bryn Mawr to Foster.
Any question, contact info@the48thward.org
Do We Need Another Over-Sized Development on Sheridan Road?
Four buildings (23 stories, 13 stories, 11 stories and 5 stories) between 400-600 total units at Thorndale & Sheridan are being proposed and raise serious concerns for our community.
Sheridan Down-Zoning was developed through a collaborative effort between ASCO, the late Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith, legal counsel and the community. Adopted by the Chicago City Council in 2006, it limits development along Sheridan Road to 47-60 feet (5-6 stories) under RM 5.5 zoning. This standard has been consistently respected since its adoption, adhered to by both developers and the Alders.
THIS PROPOSAL
- Exceeds current RM 5.5 zoning 6-story maximum (Sheridan Down-Zoning)
- Adds significant traffic and congestion which leads to an increase of vehicles
- Provides limited parking (only 205 spaces, including 40 reserved for Emanuel Congregation)
- Impacts view, light, green space and neighborhood character
- Raises concerns about adequate street parking
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Share your concerns & advocate for responsible development
CONTACT
Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth’s Office
Agnes Chan
Director of Planning and Infrastructure
agnes@the48thward.org
and
Nick Anderson
Developer – Fern Hill Company
edgewater@fernhillcompany.com
and
Emanuel Congregation
www.emanuelcong.org/building-project
EDGEWATER MONDAY MARKET 2026
Admission to the market is free for everyone and no advance registration is necessary. You can see the full list of vendors, schedule, and find out more information about the Edgewater Monday Market at Edgewater Chamber’s website (www.edgewater.org) or at https://www.edgewater.org/events/monday-market/
Legal Update: Lawsuit Filed over Broadway Upzoning
Note to ASCO Members: ASCO is sharing this report to keep our members informed of local developments. This post serves as a summary of publicly available information regarding the lawsuit filed by ERRD and does not constitute a formal endorsement of the litigation.
On January 12, 2026, the Edgewater Residents for Responsible Development (ERRD), along with 13 local residents and business owners, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court.
The legal challenge centers on the City of Chicago’s October 16 decision to upzone approximately 1.5 miles of the Broadway neighborhood shopping district—a move the plaintiffs describe as “unprecedented” in scope and scale.
Primary Legal Allegations
-
Violation of Due Process
The complaint alleges that the city enacted sweeping rezoning without the legally required public study, notice, and planning process.
-
Neighborhood Impact
Plaintiffs argue the upzoning encourages demolition of historic buildings and alters the long-standing fabric of the shopping district.
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Request for Invalidation
The suit asks the court to invalidate the upzoning and restore the properties to their prior zoning classifications.
“Edgewater’s Broadway is a vital district with historic buildings housing beloved small businesses. The City’s upzoning targets these for demolition. We were left with no other recourse.”
— Patricia Sharkey, ERRD President
Related Documents
Matching Gift Challenge
Recognizing the costs of litigation, several Broadway small businesses have offered a $15,000 Matching Gift Challenge to support ERRD’s legal efforts through the end of January.
ERRD@baliozian.com
@ERRD1
ERRD, 6236 N. Lakewood, Chicago, IL 60660
Information provided by ERRD. Not an ASCO managed fund.
The Win-Win Roadmap
ERRD has proposed an alternative set of planning principles for responsible development on Broadway, currently supported by over 650 residents.
The Greenest, Most Affordable Housing
Is the Housing We Already Have
By Jack Markowski
As Chicago debates the future of Broadway in Edgewater, one simple truth is being overlooked: the greenest housing is the housing we already have. Every time we demolish an existing building and replace it with new construction, we incur an enormous carbon cost. The embodied energy in brick,wood, and concrete — all the materials that went into our older buildings — is lost, and the emissions from producing and transporting new materials are added to the atmosphere. Preservation isn’t nostalgia; it’s climate policy.
But environmental impact is only half the story. Existing housing is also our city’s most affordable housing; it’s called Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing. The one to three-story buildings that line Broadway provide naturally affordable homes for working families, seniors, and young people; they also house a vast array of locally owned businesses. When those buildings are replaced by upscale new developments, the result isn’t a wider range of choices — it’s higher rents and fewer options for current residents and businesses…
Supporters of upzoning claim that allowing taller, denser private developments will eventually lower rents on Broadway and throughout Edgewater. That theory — a “trickle down” approach to housing — depends on an unrealistic assumption: that private developers will build so much market-rate housing that supply vastly outstrips demand. In fact, in Chicago this has never proven to be true. There is not a single instance where development has led to price reductions in a local housing market. In Edgewater, a thriving and desirable community, this will never happen. Prices won’t drop until the neighborhood loses the very qualities that make people want to live here…
Preserving existing housing and protecting local businesses isn’t just about saving old buildings. It’s about protecting affordability, reducing emissions, and keeping neighborhoods like Edgewater strong.
Jack Markowski is the former Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing and former President /CEO of the Community Investment Corporation, the Chicago area’s leading lender for affordable rental housing.
