Woodlawn Avenue Row
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 on the south side of Woodlawn Avenue at Michigan Avenue in Buffalo's Masten neighborhood, this row of four frame houses was put up by speculative developer Louis F. Lautenslager at a cost of $7,500. It once held seven identical units, but three end units were demolished around 1950. The row is finished in narrow clapboard under a slate mansard roof with a denticulated cornice, projecting eaves, bay windows, and dormers carved with floral motifs. Even the rear elevation carries lattice panels, cross-buck patterns, and bracketed entrance canopies. Inside, the original floor plan survives, along with built-in cupboards, window seats, oak woodwork, decorative fireplace surrounds, and elaborate stairways. A restoration in the early 1980s recovered much of the original look, though the enclosed entrance porches and wrought-iron cresting were not replaced. It is valued as one of four surviving groups of frame rows in a neighborhood where this housing type was concentrated, and as a fine example of Stick style design.
Significance in brief: It is one of only four intact groups of frame multi-unit rows left in the Masten neighborhood, the only part of Buffalo where such rows were built in any number. It is a highly detailed, well-crafted example of Stick style architecture and the most decorative of the surviving frame rows. It illustrates an approach to standardized urban housing in the late nineteenth century.
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 86000690, listed March 19, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 75--81 Woodlawn Ave., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | March 19, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000690 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Louis F. Lautenslager |
| Architectural style | Stick style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the early 1980s; in residential use, in fair condition. Three end units were demolished c. 1950 and the original porches were removed c. 1970. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.91382, -78.86208 (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 86000690.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8033003
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.