“They closed it in 2013” a former student sighed. We stand before the Former Von Humboldt Elementary School. This isn’t just any building. It’s a piece of Humboldt Park history. For over 130 years it served as a community school. It educated generations of Chicago children.
The original building a stunning Italianate structure. John J Flanders designed it. He was the official Chicago Public School architect. It was erected in the 1880s. The terra cotta details are exquisite. You can still see “Erected 1884” and “Von Humboldt School” on the facade.
Population growth spurred expansion. W August Fiedler added a second building in 1895. Its Italian Renaissance style is striking. A third addition followed in 1921. Arthur Hussander designed it maintaining the original architectural feel.
The school faced closure in 2013. It was one of nearly 50 schools shut down by then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel. This decision devastated the community. Many former students and parents mourned the loss.
But the story doesn’t end there. The Former Von Humboldt Elementary School is slated for a new life. It’s becoming a “Teachers Village”. A planned 107-unit apartment complex. This will provide much-needed affordable housing for Chicago’s educators.
The redevelopment is ambitious. It includes 102 apartments. Five market-rate townhomes are also planned. There will also be commercial and retail spaces. A community learning center is planned as well. A public plaza and parking spaces are included in the design.
Preservation Chicago advocates played a key role. They championed retaining the original exterior. They also fought to save key interior features. Staircases and the auditorium were among the elements they successfully preserved.
While a Chicago Landmark designation wasn’t pursued. The project represents adaptive reuse at its best. It’s transforming a historic building into a vital community resource. The Former Von Humboldt Elementary School. Its past is rich. Its future promising. A testament to the enduring power of history and hope.