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Earle School Reopens as 50-Unit Affordable Housing in West Englewood

Layered public-private funding converted the vacant 1897 school into income-restricted apartments with on-site supportive services.

Overview

  • City and project leaders held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday for Earle Residences, the $34–35 million conversion of the former Charles Warrington Earle School into 50 apartments.
  • Most units are targeted to households at about 60% of area median income with examples given for single-person and family income limits, and nine apartments carry deeper MAUI subsidies for very low-income tenants.
  • The redevelopment used layered financing including tax increment funds, Chicago Recovery Plan supportive-housing dollars, IHDA support, the Federal Home Loan Bank program, and utility contributions.
  • Gorman & Co. partnered with the Phoenix Foundation and Phoenix Recovery Services to provide on-site supportive services for residents and the building includes a community room, computer lab, fitness room, laundry, playground, garden, and energy-efficiency upgrades.
  • The project preserves the 1897 National Register-listed building and is presented as part of a wider city push to reuse dozens of shuttered CPS properties that sat vacant after the 2013–2014 closures.