“A philanthropist whose family is behind the Walmart empire is the new owner of a historical West Side shelter, which was saved from demolition after preservationists battled to have it named a Chicago landmark.

“Samantha Walton bought the Wolfson building, 2678 W. Washington Blvd., last fall and plans to repurpose it into a community space, a member of the ownership team, the project’s PR rep and neighbors confirmed to Block Club Chicago. Samantha Walton is married to Lukas Walton, the billionaire grandson of Walmart’s founder Sam Walton.

“Matt Berenberg, who is part of the ownership team and is responsible for overseeing design and construction, said Samantha Walton decided to buy the 132-year-old building after reading Block Club’s coverage about the previous owners planning to tear it down.

“Lukas Walton, once named Illinois’ richest man, is the founder and CEO of Chicago-based Builders Vision, which funds projects centered on environmental sustainability. The two were formerly were co-presidents of a subsidiary foundation, Builders Initiative, according to Crain’s.

Samantha Walton now is listed as “director, co-chief officer, chairman” in foundation tax records.

“The Walton Family Foundation, a separate entity for which Lukas Walton is a board member, is a founding sponsor of East Garfield Park business incubator The Hatchery, about a mile west of the Wolfson building. The foundation gave $4.2 million to the incubator’s LLC in 2018, according to its records.

“The three buildings that make up the property — the main house, a coach house and the dormitory — will be turned into community spaces, based on neighbors’ feedback, Berenberg said. Restoring the building and preserving its history is part of Samantha Walton’s interest for this ‘personal passion project. She’s passionate about community. She’s passionate about Chicago. She’s a mom and she really wants to see this property contribute to the fabric of the community,’ Berenberg said.

“Ramya Sadagopan, a Garfield Park resident of five years who lives near the Wolfson building, was at Tuesday’s meeting and said she’s ‘very excited’ about the proposed plans. ‘It looks like they really listened and captured’ everything neighbors wanted, Sadagopan said.

“The former maternal health center has a history of providing critical services to single mothers in the early 20th century, when help was scarcely given to them. The site includes a former dormitory for single mothers.

“It was built in 1892 as a single-family home for Fred W. Morgan, a manufacturer of bicycle tires, according to Preservation Chicago. In 1949, the Washington Boulevard house became the headquarters of the Florence Crittenton Anchorage, a shelter for women and young girls that first opened in 1886. The anchorage remained there until closing permanently in 1973, according to a Tribune article from that year. When it closed, the facility was the only state-licensed maternity home in the city that served girls 18 and under. The building was then turned into the Living Center for Girls, which ran from 1977 until 1998, according to a presentation to the city’s landmark commission.

“Preservation Chicago successfully organized to landmark it last year after the previous owner applied for a demolition permit.

“Early plans for the 132-year-old building call for turning it into ‘a community asset,’ Berenberg told Block Club. The main house could include a resource center, library, offices, art studios and yoga and wellness spaces, Trina Sandschafer, executive vice president and design principal at architecture firm Kahler Slater, told neighbors at Tuesday’s meeting. The coach house could be turned into a coffee shop and the dormitory into a multifunctional event space, Sandschafer said.

“The future of this property is really safe for generations to come, which is an amazing thing for all the West Siders to have the opportunity to use this space,’ he said. ‘We’re hoping to have the community involved, both from a programmatic perspective and from a construction perspective.’

“The building’s exterior facades are in ‘good condition’ and will require some maintenance work and minor repairs, Berenberg said.

“Only the dormitory and the main house qualified for landmark designation. However, owners plan to treat the coach house, located on the east side of the building, ‘with the same type of consideration they would treat all other buildings,’ Berenberg said.

“Several historic features in the main house, including original floors and woodwork, are in fairly good condition and could be restored and preserved, Berenberg said. The dormitory, built by renowned Chicago architects William Holabird and Martin Roche, will require full repairs given extensive damage caused by a fire in previous years. All buildings require new electric and plumbing, among other repairs, Berenberg said.

“The Commission on Chicago Landmarks would have to approve preliminary plans, which include adding an elevator and a staircase structure between the main house and the dormitory, said attorney Katie Jahnke Dale of DLA Piper who is representing the owners. City Council and the Zoning Board of Appeals will need to approve zoning changes.

“The scope of renovations will require a ‘significant investment,’ he said. “Samantha will invest whatever it takes to complete the project,’ Berenberg said. ‘We’re committed to taking this over the finish line.'” (Garcia Hernandez, Block Club Chicago, 7/11/24)

Preservation Chicago launched a rapid response advocacy campaign to try to save the Wolfson Building at 2678 W. Washington Blvd in East Garfield Park from demolition. Extensive research by Preservation Chicago revealed the building’s fascinating and important history. Proactive community organizing and stakeholder outreach galvanized the support necessary to allow the Preliminary Landmark Designation to advance.

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Billionaire Family Behind Walmart Buys Old West Side Women’s Shelter, Will Create Community Space; Philanthropist Samantha Walton bought the 132-year-old property after reading in Block Club how preservationists saved it from demolition, a member of the ownership team said, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Block Club Chicago, 7/11/24
• West Side Women’s Shelter Building Named A Chicago Landmark, Saving It From Wrecking Ball; Garfield Park’s Wolfson Building was once a save haven for single women and mothers, particularly women of color. Advocates fought to preserve its history, Trey Arline, Block Club Chicago, 12/13/23
• Buyer steps in to save historic mansion that sheltered unwed mothers, Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 10/30/23
• 2678 W Washington Blvd, Chicago Sales Listing with extensive photos
• Landmarks commission has a chance to help save historic West Side mansion; The landmarks commission’s vote could set the stage for preserving a handsome late 19th Century building in a neighborhood that has lost too many vintage structures over the past 50 years; Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 8/1/20
• Final landmark recommendation approved for 2678 W. Washington, the historic home was built in 1880, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 10/9/23
• 131-Year-Old West Side Women’s Shelter Building Gets Early Landmark Approval; Historic preservationists lobbied to landmark the Victorian property, citing its importance as a safe haven for single women of color for its time, Trey Arline, Block Club Chicago, 8/10/23