Our History

For decades, the Armory at 815 Chicago Street was an operating military facility used to train soldiers, store guns and equipment, and host community dances. It was also home to the famous 32nd Division, later honored with the name the “Red Arrow” Division.

But in the early 1960’s, operations moved elsewhere, and the building sat vacant.

In 2016, after 40 years of vacancy, a group of visionary community leaders gathered support to turn the blighted building into a showcase for urban revitalization, leveraging its unique architecture and history to bring the concept of an urban farm to reality.