YWCA Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1928 at the corner of Northeast Jefferson and Fayette Streets on the eastern edge of downtown Peoria, this five-story YWCA building was designed by Hewitt Emerson & Gregg and constructed by W.M. Allen Son & Company. Its steel frame is clad in tan, wire-cut face brick with limestone trim, and the design pairs Georgian Revival elements with Art Moderne touches such as a reeded limestone cornice and flat brick parapet. Windows are mostly eight-over-eight wooden sash, and the exterior arrangement reflects the interior plan, with public rooms on the lower floors and dormitory space above. The building also housed a gymnasium, pool area and basement auditorium. It was recognized for its association with social history in Peoria, with a period of significance running from 1928 to 1956. The form lists the building as vacant and not in use, with work in progress at the time of listing in 2007.
Significance in brief: The building is listed under Criterion A in the area of Social History, reflecting its role as the local YWCA headquarters from 1928 to 1956. Its Georgian Revival design with Moderne touches also marks it as a well-preserved example of a 1920s urban institutional building. The excerpt provided contains the description but not the full significance narrative.
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 07000147, listed May 17, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 NE Jefferson, Peoria |
|---|---|
| County | Peoria County |
| Listed | May 17, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000147 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Hewitt Emerson & Gregg/W.M. Allen Son & Company |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival; Other: Modern Movement/Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed on the form as vacant/not in use, with work in progress; the form also lists institutional housing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Peoria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.69440, -89.58815 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 07000147.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8046072
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.