Broad Street Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
This stretch of West Broad Street in Richmond, with adjoining parts of North Laurel and Gilmer Streets, holds 32 brick commercial buildings erected between 1880 and 1943. It lies just west of an earlier historic district and matches it in scale, materials and style. Italianate design dominates, with examples of Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Beaux Arts and Art Deco. Development came in two phases: the north side was built out by about 1889 alongside the Carver Ward, mixing shops with upper-floor housing, while the south side filled in between about 1912 and 1930 for commercial uses. The 1907 Richmond & Chesapeake Bay Railway Station, designed by William C. Noland and Henry Baskervill and built by W.A. Chesterman, spurred that growth. Early tenants included tire dealers, a drug company, caterers, a blacksmith and auto repair shops. The area was listed for its role in Richmond's commercial history and its cohesive architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1881-1943 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Late Victorian: Italianate; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival, Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival, Late Gothic Revival, Beaux Arts Classicism; Commercial style; Modern Movement: Art Deco |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Broad Street Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.