Poinsetta Apartments
Why it's listed
Rising twelve stories on the west side of South Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago, this 1929 apartment hotel is clad in buff brick with terra cotta trim. It has a 50-foot frontage, five applied pilasters that project above the cornice, and 76 apartments, making it the smallest of the Hyde Park apartment hotels in its group. Spanish Colonial Revival details include green tile coping, wrought iron grillwork at the third-level windows, and wood casement windows set above terra cotta medallions. Two-story terra cotta frames surround the grouped casement windows on the lower levels, with rococo headings and green faux marble panels. It was listed for its outstanding terra cotta ornamentation, a showcase for the Chicago-based terra cotta industry, and as the only Spanish Colonial Revival design among the Hyde Park apartment hotels. Reviewers also valued its place in the story of apartment hotels that housed Chicago's middle class.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial Revival apartment-hotel design and the only one in the Hyde Park Apartment Hotels group in that style. It is praised for its masterful use of Chicago-made terra cotta, including roped trim, medallions and rare green faux marble panels. The reviewer also noted its role in providing housing and services for Chicago's middle class.
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 86001199, listed May 14, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5528 S. Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 14, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001199 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.79407, -87.58426 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 86001199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85793793
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.