Left: The site at 1530 W. Touhy Ave. where a neighboring church is going to build a parking lot. Right: Ald. Maria E. Hadden (49th) at a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. Credit: Madison Savedra/Block Club Chicago; Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

ROGERS PARK — A Rogers Park church is making good on its longtime plans to build a parking lot next door, despite the local alderwoman denying a zoning change to make it happen.

St. George’s Cathedral, also known as Mar Gewargis Cathedral, received a permit last week to build a parking lot on a now-vacant lot next door at 1530 W. Touhy Ave., city building records show. A single-family home that had been on the lot was demolished by the church this year.

The zoning change needed for the parking lot was initially denied by Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) after neighbors spoke out against it.

However, church leaders found a workaround to continue with their plans, Hadden wrote in a newsletter to constituents.