CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 27, 2026--
Representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago), Gorman & Company, The Phoenix Foundation, and community partners gathered yesterday to celebrate the grand opening of Earle Residences, an adaptive reuse project converting the closed Charles Warrington Earle School into 50 affordable rental apartment units in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.
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FHLBank Chicago awarded a $1 million Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant to support the rehabilitation, preserving a landmark building while expanding housing opportunities in Englewood.
Located on West 61st Street in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, Earle Residences provides 50 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartment units. Originally constructed in 1897, the former school has been retro fitted with classrooms converted into apartment units.
The rehabilitation preserved historic features of the former school while creating new residential and community spaces. Resident amenities include gathering and gardening spaces, a computer lab, bicycle storage, an exercise room, performance space, and areas for supportive services and private telehealth appointments.
The development also includes permanent supportive housing, with services provided by The Phoenix Foundation.
“Transforming Earle Residences into affordable housing gave us an opportunity to preserve an important piece of Englewood’s history while creating homes that will serve the community for years to come,” said Sherri Allen-Reeves, Executive Director of Phoenix Foundation. “We’re grateful to FHLBank Chicago and the many partners who helped bring this vision to life.”
The project preserves a historic school building that served generations of Englewood residents, creating new housing while maintaining an important neighborhood landmark.
AHP grants subsidize the acquisition, new construction, or rehabilitation of rental or owner-occupied housing. Delivered in partnership with FHLBank Chicago financial institution members, these forgivable grants help address ongoing housing supply challenges by expanding access to quality affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin.
“Earle Residences demonstrates how strategic investment and strong partnerships can preserve community assets while creating affordable housing opportunities,” said Katie Naftzger, SVP and Community Investment Officer at FHLBank Chicago. “We are proud to help bring 50 affordable units to Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.”
Earle Residences was developed by Gorman & Company in partnership with The Phoenix Foundation, with support from FHLBank Chicago’s Affordable Housing Program, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the City of Chicago, ComEd Energy Efficiency, and other public and private partners.
About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
FHLBank Chicago is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with a focus on providing solutions that support the housing and community development needs of members’ customers. FHLBank Chicago is a self-capitalizing cooperative, owned by its Illinois and Wisconsin members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit fhlbc.com.
About Gorman & Company
Gorman & Company is a leader in community revitalization through a steadfast dedication to high-quality affordable, workforce, public, and senior housing nationwide. Their fully integrated platform, led by a team of industry leaders in development, design, construction, and property management, provides the highest level of customer care to their partners. At the heart of Gorman’s philosophy is a commitment to collaboratively build strong, inclusive neighborhoods alongside municipalities, governmental organizations, and nonprofits. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Gorman has been recognized as one of the nation’s top “Affordable Housing Developers” by Affordable Housing Finance magazine for more than a decade. Learn more about their diverse portfolio of national projects on their website.
Representatives from FHLBank Chicago, Gorman & Company, The Phoenix Foundation, and other project partners gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Earle Residences in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bob Boone, the catcher on the Philadelphia Phillies' first World Series championship team in 1980 who won seven Gold Gloves and was part of baseball's first three-generation family, has died. He was 78.
Boone's son, Bret, announced his father's death Tuesday on social media. The Phillies said in a statement Boone died Monday. No cause of death was announced.
“He was a man of great integrity. He was a great dad, husband, and patriarch. It was a privilege to call him my father. Baseball lost a great one today,” Bret Boone wrote.
Boone spent his first 10 seasons with the Phillies, played seven with the California Angels and two with the Kansas City Royals. He also managed the Royals and Cincinnati Reds.
“Bob was an incredible player, teammate and family man. He embodied everything we believe exemplary athletes should represent, both on and off the field,” the Phillies said in a statement. “We were proud to have him as part of the Phillies family during one of the most historic runs in team history. His impact on our organization, his teammates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him will never be forgotten.”
Boone's father, Ray, played 13 seasons in the majors and was a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers. Bob Boone's two sons both enjoyed long baseball careers. Aaron Boone played 13 seasons in the majors and played for the Reds when Bob managed the team. Aaron now manages the New York Yankees. Bret Boone was a three-time All-Star over a 14-year career spent largely with the Seattle Mariners. A third son played in the minor leagues. Bret's son, Jake Boone, works in the New York Mets' front office after playing at Princeton and briefly in the minors.
“His legacy is profound, and we can see the values he embodied carried forward by his son, Aaron, in his leadership of the Yankees,” the Yankees wrote in a statement.
Bob Boone was a sixth-round draft pick as a third baseman out of Stanford in 1969. He was converted to catcher in the minor leagues and caught 1,095 games with Philadelphia, second on the Phillies’ all-time list to Red Dooin (1,124). Boone caught 2,225 games overall in 19 big league seasons.
“We played in the minors together where he gave up third base so I could play it, only to become one of the best catchers in baseball history,” Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said. “Bob was a great father and husband. Our lives and careers were intertwined, we pursued our Christian faith together, worked out together, and became world champions together.”
He was the first Phillies catcher to win a Gold Glove (1978, 1979) and led the Phillies with a .412 batting average in their 1980 World Series win over the Kansas City Royals.
“Bob Boone was a quiet leader, both on and off the field,” said Larry Bowa, the shortstop on the 1980 team. “I had the privilege of playing alongside him for nearly my entire career, and without question, he was the backbone of our team.”
A native of San Diego, Boone made NL All-Star teams in 1976, 1978 and 1979. He set the record for career games caught by a catcher with 1,919 in Kansas City. He was 41 years old when he won his final Gold Glove with the Royals in 1989.
Ivan Rodriguez (2,427) and Carlton Fisk (2,226) have since passed Boone on the career games caught list.
“I grew up watching Bob with the great Phillies teams of the 70’s. His play and mastery of catching inspired me to want to play the position,” Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza posted on social media.
Boone caught the final out of the 1980 Game 6 clincher when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to win the World Series. Boone was involved in a more famous play earlier in that inning when he ran after Frank White's foul pop near the home dugout in Veterans Stadium. The ball bounced off Boone's mitt and straight into Pete Rose's glove for an out — a catch played on countless highlight reels through the decades in Philadelphia.
Boone was added to the Phillies' Wall of Fame in 2005.
Boone won four more Gold Gloves, made another All-Star team and twice led the Angels to the playoffs. He went 10 for 22 (.455) with a homer and two RBIs against Boston in the 1986 American League Championship Series.
“Our franchise leader in games caught, Boone’s leadership, exceptional defense and knowledge of the game made him an invaluable presence behind the plate and helped the Angels win two division titles,” the Angels said in a statement.
Boone went 371-444 overall as a manager, spending three seasons with the Royals and three with the Reds. He joined the Washington Nationals' front office in 2005.
Washington won the World Series in 2019, the first championship in franchise history. Boone resigned in 2021 rather than comply with the organization’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
FILE - Former Philadelphia Phillies' Bob Boone watches during a Major League Baseball news conference on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, April 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
