Property Highlights

Built in the early 1900’s, the four buildings are located at 700, 708, 716 and 720 E Walnut Street where they were originally built for individual residence and as multiple dwelling apartments. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Walnut Street Historic District, the buildings have a standing history in the community, long recognized for their classical detail and Catalog Builder style architecture. The property at 708 is a particularly unique example of this style with its two story rounded porch that covers the full façade. The Englenook building (700) represents the period of construction beginning in the Pre-World War I era that marked the urban transformation of Springfield’s downtown core. The large scale of this property overwhelmed the high-style and grandeur of the adjacent upper-middle class single domestic dwellings and significantly impacted the residential character of the neighborhood. Restoration of the buildings was essential to the city’s continued and successful efforts to revitalize its downtown. The restoration of Walnut Apartments saved a valuable resource before it deteriorated beyond repair and recreated four examples of American architecture in the beautiful downtown Springfield. Walnut Apartments was developed as an affordable housing community that targets income qualifying residents with incomes at or below 60% of the median income. Each household's applicable income limit is determined by household size.