Belmont-Sheffield Trust and Savings Bank Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the southwest corner of Belmont and Sheffield Avenues in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, this six-story concrete building was completed in 1928 to house a bank, offices, stores and a residential hotel. John A. Nyden, a Swedish-born architect, designed it with limestone and buff brick facing, a three-story arched Classical entry on Belmont, and Art Deco massing and ornament. Inside, a two-story banking room has a geometric skylight, marble flooring and plaster friezes. The bank opened in 1929 and closed in July 1933 after the bank holidays, having served the area's large Swedish population. It was financed and directed by Swedish businessmen. Of six neighborhood banks from the 1920s, it is described as the only one still true to its original design inside and out. Its combination of banking, commercial space and hotel use was unusual for the period in Chicago, which adds to its significance as an early multi-use structure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only pre-Depression bank building in Lakeview that keeps its architectural integrity, combining Neo-Classical bank design with Art Deco detail. It was also an unusual multi-use building, combining a bank, offices, stores and a hotel under one roof. It is historically important as the Swedish community bank in a strongly Swedish neighborhood, designed by Swedish-born architect John A. Nyden.
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 84000931, listed March 1, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1001 W. Belmont Ave. and 3146 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 1, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000931 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | John A. Nyden |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical combined with Art Deco |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied and in fair, altered condition. The interior has suffered neglect and water damage, but much plasterwork, the skylight and the marble flooring survive. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Lakeview Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.93978, -87.65483 (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 84000931.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4884310
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.