Franklin Boulevard Historic District

Franklin Boulevard, on Cleveland's near west side, was lined with large residences after the Civil War and became the most prestigious address on the city's west side in the late 19th century. The district runs from West 38th to West 52nd Streets and holds about 100 buildings, mostly two- and two-and-a-half-story houses, along with yellow brick terraces, apartment buildings and a stone church. Styles include Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical and Craftsman. The Henry Coffinberry House, begun around 1868 with an 1896 addition, is described as probably the best local example of Carpenter Gothic. Streetcar service and the opening of the Superior Viaduct in 1878 encouraged growth, and business, industrial and political figures lived here. Other wealthy Cleveland streets have lost more of their homes to commercial development and demolition. The period of significance, about 1865 to 1915, matches the street's residential construction, and the district was recognized for its architecture.