Demolition Starts on Former Mt. Pisgah Building
Work clears the Church Street site for a four-story, 33-unit affordable housing development in Evanston.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Apartments
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Demolition began Monday on the former Mt. Pisgah Ministry building at 1813-15 Church St., starting at the back of the structure and working toward the front. The site will host a four-story, 33-unit affordable housing development costing $22 million.
Why it matters
The project is the result of a land swap between HODC, the city and Mt. Pisgah, under which the church relocates to an adjacent corner lot. The proposal drew opposition from nearby neighbors, and a lawsuit over the development's effects was settled for $158,000.
The $22 million project will offer one- to three-bedroom units to households earning 60% or less of the area median income, plus 2,250 square feet of ground-level commercial space. The total cost per unit and the financing breakdown were not detailed in the planning documents available.
The players
HODC
The Housing Opportunity Development Corporation is a nonprofit housing developer that acquired the Church Street land in a swap with the city and the church.
Mt. Pisgah Ministry
The congregation that owned the former church building at 1813-15 Church St. and is relocating to a new church on an adjacent corner lot.
City of Evanston
The municipal government that donated the former gas station lot and approved the plans and the lawsuit settlement through its City Council.
The details
The city donated a lot that formerly held a gas station to HODC, which swapped it for the church's current property. Mt. Pisgah will build a new church on an adjacent vacant corner lot previously owned by the City of Evanston. Crosby Theodore, LLC sued, claiming the development would harm its property, and Council members approved the $158,000 settlement in August 2025.
Timeline
2023: City Council first approved the affordable housing plans and land swap.
August 2025: Council approved the $158,000 payment to settle the lawsuit.
Earlier in 2026: Council reapproved the land transactions.
November 2, 2026: Demolition began on the former church building.
Next December (2027): Housing units are expected to be ready for occupancy.
Market Landscape
The project continues Evanston's 2023 affordable housing plan, which the City Council began implementing through land swaps and donated city property. It follows the same approach of pairing public land with nonprofit developers to add rent-restricted units in neighborhoods where new construction has drawn neighbor opposition.
Households earning 60% or less of the area median income will be eligible for one- to three-bedroom units once the building is complete. Nearby residents should expect demolition and construction activity on Church Street over the coming year.
The takeaway
Affordable units on this site will arrive only after roughly a year of construction, so eligible renters should watch for the leasing announcement rather than expect immediate availability. The project shows how a land swap can let a congregation relocate while a city adds restricted housing.
What happens next
Construction of the 33-unit development is expected to take about a year, with units slated to be ready for occupancy next December.
Further reading
For more on rental options in the area, see Apartments in Evanston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evanston Now.
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