Lathrop Homes consists of two-story brick row houses and three- and four-story apartment buildings separated by landscaped courtyards and linked by small archways in a campus-like arrangement.

[9] In recent decades, the Julia C. Lathrop homes have been subject to many of the same problems of increasing crime as other housing projects in Chicago, including narcotics trafficking and gang activity.

[10][11][12] In July 2006, the Chicago Housing Authority announced its intention to demolish the Lathrop Homes and redevelop the site.

[3][6] Residents and preservationists protested and Landmarks Illinois developed a plan to renovate the complex as affordable "green" housing.

[2][8][13][14][15][16][17][18] In early 2011, the authority cleared residents from the north end of the development;[19][20] in November 2011, it awarded the redevelopment contract for the site to a team with experience in architectural preservation and sustainability.