Torah Academy eyes move to Duman JCC

With Congregation Beth Am vacating its longtime home at 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove, to make way for the Buffalo Grove Park District’s performing arts center, one of the old tenants is moving to a new home.

The Torah Academy wants to move to part of the Jacob Duman JCC, at Woodland Commons.

This week, Rabbi Steven Zehnwirth, co-head of the Torah Academy, which has been in Buffalo Grove for four years, appeared before the village board. The board referred the petition to plan commission, since elementary schools are not permitted in the village business districts and a text amendment to the zoning ordinance would be needed.

The village board would also need to amend the ordinance for the Woodland Commons Planned Unit Development.

According to a letter submitted by Zehnwirth, the school is in serious negotiations with the JCC, which he hopes will result in a sublease of space at 380 Half Day Road, next to the JCC, at 370 Half Day Road.

The space was formerly known as Studio J and was used as an art studio for JCC student classes.

Zehnwirth said the Torah Academy would operate an elementary school, a preschool and perhaps a day care facility — it currently has 25 children enrolled.

The owner of the property is Inland Real Estate Corp.