1212 Larkin, Elgin

2024 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Rehabilitation

1212 Larkin is a thoughfully designed affordable housing development created around the historic Larkin Center and nearby hospital building. The $3.5 million adaptive reuse project spanning 3.5 acres provides 48 units of housing across the historic buildings and 12 new multifamily buildings. The former Larkin Center operated as an organage and social services organization for more than 100 years, with the main building constructed in 1912. The hospital was built in 1926. The National Register-listed Larkin Center was vacated in 2013. The development team behind 1212 Larkin reimagined the long-vacant local landmark, using it as the centerpiece of the 100 percent affordable and supportive housing community. The former Larkin Center and hospital now feature apartments, community rooms, a business center, a fitness center, a library/study room, a computer lab, laundry and storage space.The new multifamily buildings were designed to resemble Elgin’s historic residential architecture, making the development fit seemlessly into the existing lanscape. Apartments were also grouped into four-flat buildings and the townhomes were designed to resemble individual single-family residences. The development’s design produces affordable housing that is devoid of stigma.

Additional Information

1212 Larkin is entirely accessible and was designed to foster community. An on-site resident coordinator helps residents with financial counseling, tax preparation and connecting to first-time home buyer programs for working families. The project used Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits. Additional financing came from the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit and LIHTC allocation from the Illinois Housing Development Authority: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).

Project Principals

• Full Circle Communities, Owner and Developer
• Joshua Wilmoth, President and CEO, Full Circle Communities
• Lindsey Haines, SVP and Director of Real Estate Development, Full Circle Communities
• John Clark, Cordogan Clark & Associates, Architects/Engineers
• Therese Thompson, Cordogan Clark & Associates, Architects/Engineers
• Marc Mylott, AICP, City of Elgin, Community Development Director
• Sofia Mattesini, MacRostie Historic Advisors (now Ryan LLC)

LI asks: Why is this place important to you?

Joshua Wilmoth, Full Circle Communities

“What has been especially exciting is how quickly Larkin created community through its historically charged design, including its contextual architecture and generous porches set close to the walks. When I walked the block soon after residents moved in, those on their porches asked me how and what I was doing. So, we talked, and they shared how they liked their new homes. One mother told me how she liked being able to watch her children walk to the school across the street. I was glad when they asked me what I was doing because it signified they were taking ownership of the block. Architectural design can also enhance resident security by creating ‘defensible space,’ which is a term coined by architect Oscar Newman in the 1970s. Newman studied the reasons why some public housing developments succeeded while others failed. In doing this, he merged behavioral science with architectural design. ‘Defensible space’ refers to a design strategy that aims to reduce crime and increase resident safety by creating a physical environment that allows residents to easily monitor and control their surroundings. ‘Defensible space’ is the transitional space between public and private, and the way that architecture can create cues that certain areas are off limits to non-residents. Larkin differentiates public and private areas and creates ‘defensible space’ zones that residents assume ownership of. The historic Larkin building and the careful attention to architectural detail in the new construction flanking it instill in its residents a sense that this is a special place and one to take pride in. At Larkin, this pride of place promotes security and livability.”

LI asks: How did this place impact people in your community?

Joshua Wilmoth, Full Circle Communities

“By preserving, renovating and enhancing what has long been there, this development’s positive impact contrasts with what demolition would have produced. Elgin is proud of its architectural heritage, fostering community cohesion. The Larkin Home for Children is a local landmark in the City of Elgin. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its important role in supporting children in need in early 20th-century Elgin.

Solastalgia is a term coined by Australian environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht to describe the emotional and psychological distress experienced by individuals when they witness or are directly affected by environmental change or destruction. When describing the demolition of historic buildings and the transformation of urban landscapes, solastalgia may affect people through a sense of emotional loss, sadness, disconnection from history, and the loss of a sense of place.

Preserving 1212 Larkin and the adjacent historic building preserves this part of Elgin’s cultural heritage and diversity. This project is a reminder that successful, supportive housing can be successfully integrated into existing communities – that’s good for the communities and the residents.”