Synagogue's Sale To North Shore Special Recreation Agency Pending

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association signed a contract March 8 to purchase the Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism synagogue in Highland Park. Completion of the deal is pending further due diligence from both sides after the congregation got several offers for the property, Pioneer Press reported.

The 30,000-square-foot building on 5.6-acres at 1221 Lake Cook Road has been for sale since October after Lakeside last spring announced plans to merge with fellow Highland Park synagogue, Congregation Solel. The combined congregations will become Makom Solel Lakeside with a June 2 ceremony, where the Lakeside synagogue's Torah scrolls will be walked to the new shared temple at 1301 Clavey Road.

Lakeside Executive Director Rick Schuster told Pioneer Press it would be positive if the building could be kept in place.

"NSSRA has such a powerful community mission that it has the potential, if it goes through, to be a real feel-good story for Lakeside Congregation as it would pass from one nonprofit to another," Schuster said.

The terms of the sale have not been disclosed, but the property was listed with an asking price of $3.45 million. Current zoning would allow for a residential redevelopment of up to 20 homes, according to the property's listing.

The North Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) provides recreation services to people with disabilities in Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Northfield, Riverwoods, Wilmette and Winnetka. Founded in 1970 as the first special recreation association in the state, NSSRA has 21 full-time employees and about 500 part-time employees with a budget of $3.5 million. It is funded primarily through contributions from area park districts and municipalities.

According to the association's executive director, 52 percent of the funding will come from a capital account created six years ago to pay for its planned relocation, which its 13 member districts have been allocating $123,000 to every year. The remainder will be provided by foundations and a family benefactor, Pioneer Press reported.

Read more from Highland Park News

Earlier:

• Two Highland Park Synagogues Vote to Combine Congregations
• Highland Park's Two Reform Jewish Synagogues Consider Combining