Power is in Partnership
As Fair Housing Month draws to a close, Gorman & Company recognizes and honors its...
Building Homes, Rebuilding Neighborhoods: How Adapting Historic Properties Revitalizes Communities
Adapting historic properties is a huge undertaking, but it’s also a privilege. Properties with histories dating back to the 18th or 19th centuries are so much more than parcels of land or spots on a map. They carry stories, memories, and pride for entire communities.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation says adaptive reuse is critical to increasing the affordable housing supply. At Gorman & Company, giving these places new life is a great responsibility.
Earle School had been a central part of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood since 1897. In 2014, the school was closed and sat vacant for over a decade. Gorman & Company, along with project partners the Chicago Department of Housing and the Phoenix Foundation, spent years planning, rehabilitating, and restoring. The development cost about $33 million.
Now, Earle Residences provides 50 apartment homes. They’re available for people at risk of homelessness, and the Phoenix Foundation provides support to help get folks back on their feet.
“By bringing Earle back to life and returning it to the community through permanent supportive housing for individuals and families at risk of homelessness, the building is entering a new chapter of serving Englewood.”
Brandon Johnson. Mayor of Chicago, Illinois
Krystal Peters moved into her new apartment at Earle a few weeks before the August grand opening. It’s not just a place to live, it’s a new beginning. She believes it was kismet.
“My father was actually a teacher; he passed away 20-something years ago. So I kind of look at this as a gift from him,” Peters told ABC7 Chicago.
Maritime Lofts Coming to Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Two places that used to be integral parts of the community, then spent more than a decade vacant. Neighbors walked and drove past these spots every day. In Chicago’s Englewood, they saw a blighted building that used to be a place of joy for local kids. In Manitowoc, they saw a pile of dirt where one of the city’s biggest employers used to be.
Gorman & Company saw an opportunity to make these two sites serve the community again. Earle Residences and Maritime Lofts will be so much more than historic properties: they’ll be home for dozens of people and families.
Adaptive Reuse: Innovation in Action
Permanent Supportive Housing for Special Populations
Every April during Fair Housing Month, we’re called to reflect on the heart of one of America’s...
Collaboratively Working to Build an Equitable Future
April is Fair Housing Month, in celebration of when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair...
We initiate strategies with integrity, implement innovative solutions, revitalize communities, and build strong neighborhoods through inclusive partnerships.
