Flossmoor Unveils Digital Showcase of Village's Architectural Gems

Interactive map highlights historic homes and aims to boost tourism, real estate, and community preservation efforts.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Village of Flossmoor has launched an interactive digital showcase of the community's architecturally significant historic homes. The project, which began as a grassroots idea from two residents, has evolved into a village-wide effort to highlight Flossmoor's architectural heritage and support preservation efforts.

Why it matters

The digital showcase aligns with Flossmoor's broader goals of promoting tourism, economic development, and real estate opportunities, while also supporting the community's values of diversity and historic preservation. The initiative is part of a larger effort to restore and repurpose historic buildings in the village.

The details

The interactive map, accessible through Flossmoor's Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, features a curated selection of homes that are at least 50 years old and represent distinct architectural styles. The homes were identified through a village-funded historic home survey, with an architectural firm evaluating the submissions and categorizing the properties. The map is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather representative of Flossmoor's architectural diversity.

  • The project predates the current administration and was initially sparked by residents several years ago.
  • Under former Mayor Paul Braun, the village provided funding for the historic home survey in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The interactive map was recently launched by the current administration, led by Mayor Michelle Nelson.

The players

Michelle Nelson

The current mayor of Flossmoor, who helped refine the project, update photographs, and contribute personal stories about past residents connected to certain homes.

Paul Braun

The former mayor of Flossmoor, who provided funding for the historic home survey that laid the groundwork for the digital showcase.

Carlile Group

The architectural firm that was brought in to evaluate the submissions from the historic home survey and choose the homes that best represented distinct architectural styles.

Foundation for the Preservation of Flossmoor History

A local organization that is actively raising funds to restore a historic building from 1889 and transform it into a civic space for exhibits and community use.

Two Flossmoor residents

The grassroots initiators of the project, who lived in historic homes and wanted to see the village highlight these architectural assets.

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What they’re saying

“It actually started before COVID. Two residents who live in historic homes wanted to see the village highlight those homes — both to attract interest and to help create a community of homeowners who could support each other in caring for aging properties thoughtfully and properly.”

— Michelle Nelson, Mayor (hfchronicle.com)

“It's not comprehensive. It's representative. Just because a home isn't listed doesn't mean it isn't architecturally significant. We may already have several examples of that particular style featured.”

— Michelle Nelson, Mayor (hfchronicle.com)

“This feeds right into local preservation efforts and future preservation goals.”

— Michelle Nelson, Mayor (hfchronicle.com)

“We love diversity in all forms here in our village — people, trees, businesses and homes. This reflects those values of diversity and preservation that we like to invest in so our community continues to thrive and be a wonderful place for all of us to call home.”

— Michelle Nelson, Mayor (hfchronicle.com)

What’s next

The village plans to expand the interactive map in the future to include potential walking tours, and the local historical foundation is working to restore a historic building from 1889 to serve as a civic space for exhibits and community use.

The takeaway

Flossmoor's digital showcase of historic homes reflects the community's commitment to preserving its architectural heritage and promoting its diverse assets, which are seen as key to attracting tourism, economic development, and new residents to the village.