Huyler Building, The
Also known as: The Petri Building; The Pitt Petri Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 at 374 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, this four-story commercial and office building uses a reinforced concrete frame concealed behind a Classical Revival skin of cast stone on its Delaware Avenue and Trinity Place sides. Architect Harvey S. Horton designed it for the Huyler's candy company, which apparently never occupied it. Ground-floor retail spaces open through arched display windows, while carved panels, a balconet and a pressed metal cornice decorate the facade. Inside, a central core of stairs and elevators serves a double-loaded corridor on the upper floors. The Pitt Petri company, importers of high-end decorative and household goods, did business here for more than eighty years, and in 1939-40 hired architect Antonin Raymond to redesign its showroom with curved display areas. The building was recognized as an intact example of 1920s concrete construction and for its link to Delaware Avenue's commercial growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of 1920s reinforced concrete commercial architecture, with the concrete frame hidden behind a Classical Revival cast stone shell. It is also tied to the commercial development of Delaware Avenue as it shifted from a residential to a retail street. The Pitt Petri importing company occupied it for over eighty years, and the noted architect Antonin Raymond redesigned its showroom in 1939-40.
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 12000010, listed February 8, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 374 Delaware Ave., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | February 8, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000010 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926 |
| Architect / builder | Harvey Staring Horton, architect |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is described as still serving its original commercial and office functions, with a largely intact exterior. Upper-floor tenant spaces have been modernized. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.89649, -78.87579 (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 12000010.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7741176
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.