Cohen, H. C., Company Building-Andrews Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 216 Andrews Street in Rochester, this five-story brick building was constructed for the H.C. Cohen Company, a maker and importer of men's neckwear and silk ties. Cohen started his business in 1873 and placed the new building on the northern edge of the city's garment district, near the railroad, the Erie Canal and Main Street. The building held a showroom, warehouse, offices and manufacturing space. Only the facade carries Romanesque Revival detail: broad rock-faced arches on the first floor, Medina sandstone impost blocks, corbelled brick, pilasters and a fifth-floor arcade of arched windows. The interior is plain mill construction with heavy timbers and cast-iron columns. The company later became Superba Cravats and operated here until 1983, outlasting every other clothing manufacturer in the district. It is one of few surviving examples of its type on Andrews Street. Around 1955 a two-story addition was built, and in 1985 the building was converted to residential use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive, representative example of Romanesque Revival industrial architecture in the Inner Loop area. It is also tied to the growth of Rochester's garment industry. It is one of the few surviving examples of a once-common industrial building type.
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 85002853, listed October 4, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 216 Andrews St., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | October 4, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002853 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent; converted to residential use in 1985 with the first two floors' windows reconstructed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.15976, -77.60928 (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 85002853.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5628107
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.