Zoning has been partially approved for the upcoming redevelopment of the former Florence Crittenton Anchorage at 2678 W Washington Boulevard in East Garfield Park. Located just east of the intersection with N California Avenue, the vacant estate became a historical landmark in 2023 and is preparing for a new life as a community center and more.
View of main house at 2678 W Washington Boulevard via Preservation Chicago
History
Sitting on a half-acre lot, the property is anchored by a stunning red brick mansion and its coach house dating back to the 1880’s. Originally built for bike tire industry leader Fred Morgan, the property was sold after his death to the Chicago Home for Convalescent Women & Children who added a rear dormitory building and renamed after their benefactor’s daughter, Florence.
Historical images of Florence Crittenton Anchorage house via City of Chicago
From then until 1973, the property served as a shelter, home, school, and more for unwed women who were expecting or had recently given birth. At the time this was considered highly shameful according to Preservation Chicago, eventually becoming the state’s only licensed maternity home that served girls 18 and under.
View of dormitory building at 2678 W Washington Boulevard via Preservation Chicago
Future
After years of being abandoned the building was up for demolition until Samantha Walton, of the Walmart family, read about its history and decided to save the structure and preserve its history. While full details are unknown, the grounds will be cleaned up and the house restored as it pivots into a community hub designed by Trina Sandschafer.
View of coach house at 2678 W Washington Boulevard via Preservation Chicago
The main house will become a library with arts, tech, and media spaces as well as hold a fitness room and offices. The dormitory will contain admin and multi-purpose spaces. And the foreigner coach house will get a small addition in order to hold a small cafe and studio space. There will also be nine parking spaces which will be accessed from the rear.
The proposal now needs final zoning approval before moving forward, though a timeline is unknown. A PDF from the city’s preservation efforts can be found here.
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How fabulous. Way to go Samantha Walton! Thank you for saving this historic landmark. It’s legacy will continue and its architecture will be preserved.
Absolutely!! We are very thankful to you Samantha Walton. Not for just preserving the buildings but for also preserving a “good” memory of our past.
I have to wonder how many community centers our city can support. Building after building sponsored by the city has a bunch of ground floor space dedicated to a community center or community room. And the all purpose solution for historic buildings seems to be to spend public money to make them into yet another community center.
Are these places getting a lot of use? Are we going overboard on community centers? Is this a good way to spend public funds? I have yet to see anyone asking these questions.
That would be a question for Samantha Walton, who is apparently paying for it.
It seems like a lot of the community centers are privately funded. While there does seem to be a proliferation of these uses, I wouldn’t be surprised if the City had a significant shortage. After all, the Chicago Park District and the City doesn’t have as many resources, per capita, as many suburbs do. Many suburbs are building new Park District facilities (Oak Park, Elmhurst, and Riverside (technically not a district) come to mind. People once used churches as community centers. As churches have declined, something will need to take their place.