Steps on St. Andrews: Where Preservation Meets Affordability

In collaboration with United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Coalition (UNNC), The Steps on St Andrews seeks to honor the historic context of its community in Arlington Heights, while creating much needed affordable housing.  To achieve this, the project revitalizes a formerly dilapidated craftsman house and adds a new three-story wing in the back of the property, with a community room and rooftop deck bridging the two buildings. The Holos team salvaged many reusable original elements from inside the house, including the hardwood floors, casement and double-hung windows, handcrafted wood shelving, and vintage doorknobs to be used in other historic homes nearby. Reusing the existing frame of the house also minimizes the environmental impact of new construction.

Finding the intersection between preservation and adding more housing was possible through compromise with the community.  “This project shows what can be accomplished with true collaboration,” said Michael Shilstone, Vice President of Policy & Research for Central City Association and Board Member of Holos Communities. “Tackling our region’s housing crisis requires creative approaches to once overlooked sites. The Steps on St Andrews is a model for how traditionally low-density neighborhoods can grow sustainably through thoughtful design.”

Holos Communities celebrated the groundbreaking of Steps on St. Andrews with Todd Fabian, Director of National Equity Fund, Heather Hutt, Councilwoman for District 10, and Eric Claros, Director of LAHD Innovation Strategies Division. The event was featured on Urbanize, here.