“Developers are kick-starting work to convert the former Charles Warrington Earle School into affordable apartments after the Englewood property was one of 50 schools to close its doors more than a decade ago.
“Wisconsin-based Gorman & Co. anticipates the project — with 100% affordable units — will welcome its first residents in December 2025. The developer held a groundbreaking event on Tuesday at the school, 6121 S. Hermitage Ave.
“Earle School Apartments is Gorman’s eighth project in Illinois, said Ron Clewer, Illinois market president. Gorman has completed more than 20 school-to-apartment conversion projects, creating both market-rate and affordable units.
“Charles Warrington Earle School was one of 50 that shuttered in 2013 under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Some of the schools have since been converted into other uses, including luxury, low-income or senior citizen apartments. But a Sun-Times and WBEZ investigation last year found the majority remain unused.
“‘There’s always an emotional connection for the community to the building, and when it closes, it’s a bit more dramatic connection,’ Clewer said. ‘The idea of repurposing it and having it come back into their lives and remain in their neighborhood is often exciting for our neighbors.’
“The adaptive reuse project is also part historic preservation, Clewer said. Gorman will be renovating the school’s exterior to mirror its original 1897 facade. New windows will replicate the building’s original style, as well as the trim and moldings.
“Schools built from the turn of the 20th century to the 1950s are ideal candidates for adaptive reuse, Clewer said. Older schools tend to have bigger classrooms, which can be converted into a spacious one-bedroom, two-bedroom or a combination of unit sizes, including studios.
“‘You’re able to utilize the existing classroom space in a very meaningful way that doesn’t create a lot of excess or loss … in the square footage,’ Clewer said. ‘We find schools to be incredibly exciting to repurpose’
“The school had an addition in 1971 and another in 1974. Clewer said the add-ons are less efficient to convert and give the building a modular look. The 1971 addition will be torn down, while the 1974 addition — housing the gym — will remain.
“Some of the adjacent gym and cafeteria space will be converted into apartments. The rest, with its taller ceilings, will become a community room, social services offices and property management space, Clewer said.
“The conversion is a $33.6 million project, according to Clewer, with funding sources that include state and federal historic tax credits, ComEd, the Illinois Housing Development Authority and Chicago’s Department of Housing.” (Miller, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/2/24)
The 49 Chicago Public Schools closed school were part of our Chicago 7 Most Endangered in 2014, and that we are pleased to see more than half of them repurposed. However, we still have more than a dozen that remain vacant more than a decade later, which should perhaps be considered for housing by city, county, state and federal agencies.
Read the full story at Chicago Sun-Times
- Englewood’s shuttered Charles Warrington Earle School getting new life as affordable apartment community; 50-unit apartment building is expected to welcome its first residents in December 2025, Abby Miller, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/2/24
- Construction To Commence On Residential Conversion Of Charles Earle School In West Englewood, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 10/2/24
- West Englewood school shuttered in wave of CPS closures will become affordable apartments, Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 9/30/24
- Plan Commission approves affordable adaptive reuse, The school at 6121 S. Hermitage will be turned into apartments, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 8/25/23
- The $22 million development will create 63 units of affordable housing. Residents will have access to recovery support and recreational activities, Jamie Nesbitt Golden, Block Club Chicago, 2/2/21