Historic Preservation

Gorman & Company has been preserving significant historic buildings for more than three decades. During that time Gorman & Company has become recognized as a national leader in historic preservation.

The company has been awarded many distinctions including the National Trust for Historic Preservation / HUD Secretary’s top award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. Often historic buildings, centrally-positioned in a downtown or a neighborhood, are threatened because they have outlived their original use. They often lose their prior useful purpose and become costly burdens for local communities. Gorman & Company specializes in preserving these buildings, often turning them from community liabilities to significant community assets.

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Sherman Park Commons in Milwaukee, WI

Sherman Park Commons
Total Development Cost: $14,246,068

Sherman Park Commons was the result of collaboration with the Sherman Park Neighborhood Association and Milwaukee Department of City Development. This project saves the historic Jackie Robinson Middle School and provides a much needed catalyst for the neighborhood to maintain its forward momentum. The school has been transformed into 68 units of affordable senior housing. Seniors are able to stay close to their families, friends, and community with the reuse of this building. The historic renovation was an opportunity, through innovative art media, to showcase Milwaukee’s African American culture and history. The hallways, stairwells, and other common areas within the school offer an open canvas to portray the culture and history of the African American community in the Sherman Park neighborhood and Milwaukee as a whole. Amenities include a theatre, fitness center, playground, community room, computer lab, garden plots, and beauty salon.

Alexander Lofts in Milwaukee, WI

Alexander Lofts
Total Development Cost: $13,166,819

Gorman & Company in partnership with the City of Milwaukee, renovated the the historic Hills Building into a new public library space on the first floor with market rate residential apartments above. The upper floors were renovated to create 52 apartment units, and the separate back building was renovated to create an additional 8 townhouse units, for a total of 60 units. The Hills Department Store building was originally a department store, later a hardware store, and most recently a commercial office building. The property is located within the Historic Mitchell Street district, a nine block stretch of architecturally and historically significant commercial structures locally designated by the City of Milwaukee.

Washington School in Sheboygan, WI

Washington School
Total Development Cost: $9,384,016

Washington School revitalization building into 42 units of mixed-income housing. The adaptive reuse allows the otherwise vacant Washington School to become a positive addition and vibrant part of the neighborhood. Preservation of the look and feel of the school was important to the community and remained a top priority to Gorman throughout the design and construction phasing. Amenities include a fitness center, computer center, off-street parking, on-site laundry and on-site leasing office.

In partnership with the Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and the City of Wausau, Gorman has completed a historic renovation on this century-old property in downtown Wausau, WI. The partnership utilized historic and affordable tax credits to facilitate the rehab on The Landmark, which now features 94 updated affordable one and two-bedroom units.

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We initiate strategies with integrity, implement innovative solutions, revitalize communities, and build strong neighborhoods through inclusive partnerships.