Nomination for Alexandra, The

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0018 (Oct. 1990) NAT. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property Location street & number _ 921 E. William H. Taft Road N/A not for publication city or town. N/A O vicinity 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this *ik nomination *X meets -does not meet the National Register criteria.

I recommend that this property be considered significant Dept. Head Signature of certifying official/Title State of Federal agency and bureau National Park Service Certification Date of Action J See continuation sheet. _ determined not eligible for the I removed from the National other, (explain:) comments.) Date 8-22-97 Cincinnati RECEIVED Register. state Registration Form Alexandra Apartments National Register National Park Service historic name Ohio Historic Preservation Office The Alexandra entered in the National Register. United States Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places other names/site number This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts.See instructions in How to Complete the Ohio National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A).

Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or code OH county Hamilton request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property In my opinion, the property - meets does not meet the National Register criteria. ([ See continuation sheet for additional I hereby certify that the property is: 5. Classification XX building(s) _sites 6. Function or Use 7.

Description Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: foundation _ walls _ Gambrel: slate The Noncontributing Historic Functions object structure roof Brick public-local public-State district Narrative Description Architectural Classification Total Category of Property Ashlar limestone in the National Register Number of contributing resources previously listed Dutch Colonial Revival (Enter categories from instructions) public-Federal The Alexandra Ownership of Property Number of Resources within Property Current Functions County and State Vacant/not in use Name of Property (Check as many boxes as apply) Name of related multiple property listing (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Hamilton County, ohio (Check only one box) xxprivate Materials (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Hamilton Co., Ohio Section number . Cincinnati neighborhood of Walnut Hills, The Alexandra is decorative facades, are accentuated with large flat stone Several window bays, especially towards the east have been Page DESCRIPTION Distinctive features associated with its style accentuate the asymmetrical with the main north side facade exhibiting three large decorative north main facade and extend to incorporate the brick walls complete the wall construction with much less plain entablatures helping to enclose the gable ends. Located approximately three miles from downtown within the elements are associated with the Dutch Colonial Revival style. composed of glazed stretcher bond brick across the decorative Continuation Sheet The Alexandra situated at the intersection.

The building sits atop a raised ashlar stone foundation. The architectural details also incorporate the use of a gambrel frontispiece details are found at the smaller west side entry. The two decorative facades have large open balconies that extend continue the details with the use of closed pediments with deep situated at the corner of two busy streets that serve to move The Alexandra is a large scale four story building that National Register of Historic Places fast food parking lot for a large NPS Form 10-900-a grocery store, a church, and several late nineteenth century architectural details, this building dominates the visual setting Overall, the facades are Window lintels, at the and dart molding and a full stone entablature. The same terminate with Doric capitals.

The machicolations terminate the (8-86) The immediate built environ- inspired stone capitals and with single turned stone columns that roof and blind machicolations. exhibits a one story frontispiece composed of smooth rectangular to the third floor and are supported by brick columns with Doric The more prominent fenestration.Small stone lug sills are the only embellishment blocked over with plywood. large wings that project from the main axis of the building. ment is composed of several buildings that contain adaptive multiple family residential buildings.E Because of its scale and balcony treatments at the fourth floor.v west facade.

The main raised entry, at the north facade, The north and west exterior walls are United States Department of the Interior * National Register of Historic Places Hamilton Co., Ohio elevator shaft constructed of concrete block has been added door surrounds, baseboards, and oak strip flooring laid to walls. Continuation Sheet structural decay. as a apartment building. Decorative wainscoting adds architectural interest at the halls. Staircases extend upwards from the first floor to the fourth existing ceiling and wall plaster is evident in many apartments. The building has experienced some damage within recent years had experienced fire damage with subsequent water deterioration exhibit small square red tiles highlighted with smaller white and walls has occurred.

are flanked by glass sidelights and a large lighted transom.An The interior architectural detail is highlighted by the due to vacancy and a fire in part of the upper floor.Decay to National Park Service The building was originally designed to accommodate fifty- stacks rise above the apex of the gambrel roof. mantles with tile surrounding the fire window and The Alexandra OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Section number _ - 7 Page - to these facades. marble squares. halls continue the floor tile motif. Large double entry doors the smaller stairwell. decorative staircases with marble treads and risers. Plain wood due to the loss of a portion of the roof. The building is four apartments. Surviving details include some decorative Plain surrounds accentuate door treatment. presently vacant.

A fire to its eastern upper section was experienced several The fourth floor has numerous dormers piercing bay placement.Several paired window bays are found at the north Current plans call for rehabilitation and use Some interior decay to plaster ceilings even with the top of window and door lintels, extends across most and west facades. illuminate the staircases.At the first two entry Some floors have buckled.The east side staircase exhibits some Name of Property County and State 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Areas of Significance XXA Property is associated with events that have made - Other a significant contribution to the broad patterns of - B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. XxC Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack Period of Significance 1904- c. 1915 L D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) - A owned by a religious institution or used for - B removed from its original location. (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) - C a birthplace or grave. - D a cemetery. - E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. - F a commemorative property.

- G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References - preliminary determination of individual listing (36 * State Historic Preservation Office CFR 67) has been requested - Other State agency - previously listed in the National Register Federal agency - previously determined eligible by the National - Local government L University _ designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey L recordedby Historic American Engineering Record # 1904 Bibilography ARCHITECTURE Register Architect/Builder Criteria Considerations Development religious purposes. individual distinction. Property is: The Alexandra Significant Person Applicable National Register Criteria Cultural Affiliation Significant Dates Narrative Statement of Significance for National Register listing.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): N/A Primary location of additional data: our history.

(Enter categories from instructions) Name of repository: Hamilton County, ohio (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Hamilton County, Ohio Name of Property 10. Geographical Data (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.) - See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By Fred Mitchell- street & number 1026 Lenox Place city or town State - zip code 45229 Submit the following items with the completed form: A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) Property Owner (Complete this item at the request of SHPO or FPO.) George and Kitty Thomas c/o Andrew Lipton 225 W.

Court Street _ telephone 513-721-5525 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect name Easting Photographs Zone Maps Cincinnati Northing Boundary Justification Continuation Sheets name/title Additional Documentation UTM References Additional items organization The Alexandra Representative black and white photographs of the property. County and State Acreage of Property Less than one acre.

(Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) _ date December, 1996 A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. Historic Preservation Associates OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 NPS Form 10-900-a United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Hamilton co., ohio Section number the first large scale, high density apartment buildings locatec Page historical association with Cincinnati's premier real estate (8-86) Continuation Sheet Criterion C for its use of architectural detailing associated apartment building to articulate its form.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE distance from downtown Cincinnati and its neighborhood business desirable residential location because of its short travel improvement of cablecar and streetcar transportation, Walnut away from downtown cincinnati.

The Alexandra Cincinnati neighborhood of Walnut Hills at the turn-of-the- provide housing for the increasing demand in rental units located extending the construction of apartment building development into of Gilbert Avenue as it extended from downtown Cincinnati to It is significant under Criterion A for its association with been constructed along Gilbert Avenue and McMillan Avenue, in 1885,replaced the more laborious horse drawn trans- of people who wished to live away from the congested basin area The Alexandra is nominated under Criterion A for its National Register of Historic Places with the Dutch Colonial Revival style as applied to a large scale Peebles Corners, the main transportation hub and commercial district. port. established.

several single family residential subdivisions had been The Walnut Hills area had experienced an influx of transport technology had confined many people to living within In addition, numerous small apartment buildings had development pattern of large scale residential real estate several apartment buildings that contributed to the historic Topographic constraints and the lack of adequate The more reliable cable cars allowed for the mass movement major streets crossing through Walnut Hills. the basin area. The advent of cable cars along Gilbert development firm, Thomas J. Emery's Sons and their development of Real estate In 1872,horse drawn coaches traversed the long slope developers had envisioned larger apartment buildings that could reduced and made much more efficient.

With the implementation of six cable car lines, Hills experienced an increase in housing demand.By the 1890s of the city. OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Hamilton co., ohio Section number - In 1903, Thomas J. Emery's Sons, the major real estate developers in Cincinnati at that time, proposed to construct a With the success of The Alexandra, the Emery's constructed Also in 1906, the Emery's constructed The Clermont, a developments, the Emery's undertook one final large scale apartment units within Cincinnati's hilltop neighborhoods. The contributes to the historic development of the Gilbert-Sinton National Register Historic District (1983) and the Gilbert Row apartments (National Register, 1982) located on Gilbert Avenue. Page buildings within the neighborhood.

Continuation Sheet The Alexandra was constructed to house fifty-four apartments construction of The Alexandra illustrated that there was a car terminus and the busy shopping district of Peebles Corner previously constructed numerous apartment buildings in downtown other development company had constructed such a large number of National Register of Historic Places within the neighborhood. located at Gilbert Avenue and McMillan Street.Large scale of these four apartment buildings the development company added significant demand for apartment living in Walnut Hills.Its The Alexandra 1Thomas J.

Emery's Sons had previously constructed a small apartment building that two hundred and twelve units into the apartment marketplace.No The Verona a few blocks to the southeast in Walnut Hills.This Apartments National Register,1976) located on West Fourth the Norfolk Flats on West Eighth NPS Form 10-900-a Cincinnati. Notable apartment construction included the Lombardy and was the largest apartment building to be constructed by that This (8-86) East Walnut Hills. The developers knew the apartment market in Walnut apartment building in Walnut Hills.The Navarre was constructed is a large building with fifty-one apartments and was built in one block north of The Alexandra on Gilbert Avenue.Built in success was followed by other large scale apartment projects With the success of these apartment building apartment buildings were not new to this company.

seventy unit apartment building in the neighboring community of They had OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Hamilton Co., Ohio Section number - in 1904 on Park Avenue by Charles Mayer, a developer primarily of buildings (Roslyn 1904, Roanoke 1904, Rutland 1906, and Romaine an important alternative to the purchase of a home. six apartments. Page single family houses. Continuation Sheet further distinguished by its association with the major apartment of these was The Roanoke with thirty-seven apartments.The The construction of large scale apartment buildings was not The Alexandra desirable apartment buildings that met a particular housing The building is significant under Criterion C for its archi- istic elements are associated with the Dutch Colonial Revival landlord for apartment living.

National Park Service period of the city's residential development when apartments were Clifton, and Hyde Park had experienced significant residential National Register of Historic Places building construction, The Alexandra was the first such building When viewed within the context of large scale apartment tectural detailing and scale of construction as applied to turn respect to clifton, the company built four large scale apartment Register,1982) was built in 1909 and contained fifty- United States Department of the Interior is the Park Flats Register,1983) which was constructed other apartment buildings had been constructed were NPS Form 10-900-a Thomas J. Emery's Sons was also From 1904 to 1909, they constructed nine large scale growth with developers constructing large apartments to meet the demand.

construction had been undertaken within several other expanding developers within the city.Thomas J. Emery's Sons constructed Thomas J. Emery's Sons was not the only real estate develop- a major developer in several of these neighborhoods.With er to construct apartments in Walnut Hills.other developers of such large scale construction.It was constructed during a The largest exclusive to Walnut Hills. demand for this type of housing. (8-86) OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Hamilton Co., Ohio Section number - Joseph .G. Steinkamp (1868-1948) in collaboration with his Building (1927) (National Register, Over-the-Rhine Historic District 1983), several Xavier University buildings, several character. Page Continuation Sheet office skyline.

Alexandra Apartments Cincinnati was experiencing the development of its tall building Steinkamp enjoyed a long architectural career within the The building was designed by the Cincinnati architect, Other examples of his work include the Art Deco American The historic design integrity of this building is largely There are identifiable architectural details that Steinkamp large staircases with marble elements, wainscoting and tile and lack of maintenance have temporarily affected its visual relationship with Thomas J. Emery's Sons when he designed the surmounted with a classically inspired parapet. Mercantile Library Building in downtown Cincinnati.This is a Norfolk Flats.He was subsequently employed to design various Cincinnati churches, and several industrial buildings.

National Register of Historic Places apartments exhibited a gambrel most use a flat roof floors at the large double door entrances. NPS Form 10-900-a design. Important architectural details include the use of Fire damage (8-86) city. entablatures, and closed pediments at the roof dormers. These included the apartment buildings in addition to The Alexandra.He also diminished the significance of its original design.F Emery's.With another Emery commission in 19o5,he designed the designed Haddon Hall Register,1982) in 1909 for the OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Hamilton co., ohio Section number - Within the context of apartment building design, the ally, the association of its architect, Joseph G.

Steinkamp, is Page (8-86) Alexandra Apartments is important to Cincinnati's architectural large scale apartment architectural development that reflects the National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Their collaboration resulted in a good representative example of use in the early twentieth century. The Alexandra tes the application of these stylistic details to a large scale NPS Form 10-900-a teamed up with Cincinnati's most important development firm. Revival style as applied to an apartment building.It illustra- It also illustrates one example of architecture that significant. Steinkamp was an important cincinnati architect who historical development and design context for this type of land OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior 9. BIBLIOGRAPHY obituaries for John J. Emery, Thomas J.

Emery, Jr., ahd Cincinnati Observed: Architecture and History, Ohio State The Bicentennial Guide to Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Maxwell, Walter H., (1909) in Saxby's, Volume 20, No. 9, pp. 49-65. Mitchell, Fred (1985) Robinson, E. (1884) Atlas of Cincinnati: 1884-1884, New York. Russel1, John (1982) Walsh, Rita (1983) 10. VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION District. University Press. Cincinnati Historical Society The Alexandra National Register nomination for Haddon Hall. Continuation Sheet The nominated property includes the parcels of land VERBAL BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION "The Emery Estate: Cincinnati's Commercialized Philanthropy" Historical Society. historically associated with the building. National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Joseph G. Steinkamp.

Lots 40,4l and 42 of Hamilton County Auditor's Plat Book Page Hamilton Co., Ohio NPS Form10-900-a Section number - Giglierano, Geoffery J., and Deborah A. Overmyer (1988) National Register nomination for Gilbert-Sinton Historic National Register nomination for Peebles Corner Historic (8-86) NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Hamilton Co., Ohio Section number - 921 E. William H. Taft Road east. Number south. floor. Photograph upper floor balustrades. Description of Page Cincinnati, Photos Continuation Sheet along east side of Gilbert Avenue. from second floor. The Alexandra National Register of Historic Places along south side of William H. Taft Road. National Park Service View of interior entrance doors at main lobby.view at first floor. View at first floor. View of lobby and balustrade of west side staircase.

looking south from William H. Taft Road. View of interior hall detail at fourth floor. View of main lobby and hall at first floor. Hamilton County, Ohio View of decorative facade details at north facade.View View December, 1996 5) Location of Negatives: Fred Mitchell 1 View of west and north side facades. View looking 2 . View of east and north side facades. View looking west View of west and south rear facades. View looking north View of main entry at north side facade. View looking View of facade detail at north facade. View looking of main staircase at first floor. View looking down Typical view of apartment detail. View at third floor. (8-86) Staircase detail at west side stairs.views at first Typical view of apartment detail.view at second floor.

Date of Photographs: View looking up from first floor at main staircase at The Alexandra Hamilton Co., Ohio WINDSOR The Alexandra OAK ST Hamilton Co., Ohio SEMINARY PL MYRTLE A MCMILLAN ST Park Flats (NR 1983) VICTORY PKWY KEMPER LN PARK AV LAREDO AV Location of Large Apartment Buildings Constructed by Thomas J.

Emery's Sons in Walnut Hills CURTIS ST CROSS LN MELROSE AV YALE AV WILLIAM HIAFT RD ROGERS PL A Navarre (1907) B The Alexandra (1904) C Verona (1906) RENNISTON CT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NAME : DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF 45TH DAY: NOMINATOR: STATE OTHER : N PDIL: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N COMMENT WAIVER: N V ACCEPT ABSTRACT/ SUMMARY COMMENTS : DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N DATE TELEPHONE RETURN REJECT DISCIPLINE 10/27/97 MULTIPLE 10/08/97 REVIEWER 9/12/97 RECOM./CRITERIA PERIOD: EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Interedin the REASONS FOR REVIEW: THE ACEXANORA Photo THE ALEXANDRA 921 lum H. TAFT Road Cincinnati THE ALEXANDRA 921 LUM H. TAFT ROHD THE MLEXANORA 921 LUM H.TAPTROAD ALEX.

THE ALEANDRA 921 LUM A, TAFT ROAD Cincinnati, Phot#s THE ACEXANORA Cincinnati 921 LUMH. TAFT ROAD Photo THE ALEXANDRA Ham. Ltan County, OHeo THE ALEXANDRA 921 E LUM H. TAFTROAD THE ALEXANORA Phut# Cincinngh THE ALEXANDRA THE ALEXANDRA Ham. Ita County Ohlo THE ALEXANDRA Cincinnsh THE ALEXANDRA Cincinnati 921 E. LUM H. TAFT ROAO Cincinnak Cincinneh THE ALEXANDRA Cincinnati OHIO-HAMILTON CO 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) ROAD CLASSIFICATION CINCINNATI EAST, OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CINCINNATI EAST QUADRANGLE UNITED STATES MAR 0 41997 City Planning Department Suite 720 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 352-4880 (513) 352-4853 Fax Leon A.

Meyer February 20, 1997 Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board c/o Barb Powers, Department Head, Planning Inventory & Registration Ohio Historic Preservation Office 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 At its meeting on February 10, 1997, the City of Cincinnati's Historic Conservation Board voted to support the National Register nomination for the Alexandra Apartments located at 921 William Howard Taft Road in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Board found that the Alexandra Apartments meets the criteria for history and architecture in the Equal Opportunity Employer City of Cincinnati Sincerely, CAC/CHK/chk Two Centennial Plaza Urban Conservator Christopher A. Cain National Register.If you have any questions concerning this letter please call me at (513) 352-4843.

805 Central Avenue Dear Barb: Director of City Planning REC'D BY OHPO Ohio Historic Preservation Office 567 East Hudson Street Columbus, Ohio 43211-1030 Fax: 297-2496 September 5, 1997 SINCE 1885 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief of Registration National Register of Historic Places National Park Service (2280) 1849 C. Street, NW Washington, D. C. 20240 Enclosed please find two (2) new National Register nominations. All appropriate notification NEW SUBMISSION Alexandra Apartments If you have questions or comments about these documents, please contact this office. State Historic Preservation Officer COUNTY Hamilton enclosures Sincerely, Lucas SOCIETY HISTORICAL Nurses Home 614/297-2470 Lucas County Hospital and Dear Ms. Shull: procedures have been followed for these new submissions. OHIO Amos J. Loveday, Jr.