The (Julia C.) Lathrop Homes complex, was one of Chicago’s first public housing projects completed in 1938 by the Public Works Administration.  The original development of the 35-acre site incorporated buildings designed in the Prairie School and Arts & Crafts styes, with a landscape design by Jens Jensen. The site and buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Power House Building originally housed the boilers and coal stores that would deliver steam heat to all 31 residential and administrative buildings on the site.  Now obsolete, the imposing structure with its 16-story smoke stack is situated at the southern end of the site at the junction of Damen Avenue and the Chicago River.  The restoration and adaptive reuse of the Power House will provide opportunities for the unique building to continue to serve the community.