Building at 1617 Third Avenue
Why it's listed
Built around 1889, this one-story shotgun cottage at 1617 3rd Avenue sits in the uptown area of Columbus, Georgia, among homes of similar type. It has a rectangular plan, a hipped roof, a central chimney, weatherboard frame walls and a brick pier foundation. A porch runs the length of the front facade, with chamfered columns and gingerbread brackets. The facade has three bays: a single-leaf entrance with a transom and two four-over-four double-hung windows. The house appears on Sanborn maps of 1889 and 1895. City directories show early residents who worked for the Central of Georgia Railroad, a foundry and machine works, and other railroad jobs. It was listed for its local history, because it housed common laborers shortly after it was built, and for its architecture, which reflects the housing tastes of lower to middle income black workers in Columbus. Its builder kept costs low while adding a bit of decorative gingerbread.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for local history because it was occupied soon after construction by common laborers working in local railroads and foundries. It is significant architecturally as an example of housing favored by lower to middle income black workers in Columbus. Its economical, conservative design was given a touch of gingerbread to follow popular styles.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001137, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1617 Third Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001137 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian Shotgun Cottage |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition and used as residential rental property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | High Uptown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.47704, -84.98915 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001137.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85749441
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.