Office of the Register
Also known as: Jamaica Arts Center
Why it's listed
Located on Jamaica Avenue, the main business street of the Jamaica section of southeast Queens, this three-story building is faced in limestone and designed in the neo-Italian Renaissance style. It was built between 1895 and 1913 and served as the Office of the Register of Deeds until 1974. The first floor has deeply rusticated stone and recessed windows, with a central round-arch doorway framed by engaged columns and a Doric entablature. Smooth ashlar covers the upper floors, where seven round-arched second-floor windows with scroll keystones contrast with the heavy base. A bracketed cornice with egg-and-dart molding and dentils crowns the facade. A five-story rear addition dates from 1938. The building is now the Jamaica Arts Center, with galleries, classrooms and studios, and it also houses local arts and development organizations. It was listed as the finest neo-Italian Renaissance building in Queens and for its role in civic and cultural life.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest neo-Italian Renaissance building in Queens, adding dignity, elegance and prestige to Jamaica Avenue. It formerly served an important government function, as the Office of the Register of Deeds, and now plays a vital role in the community's cultural life.
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 80002754, listed January 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 161--04 Jamaica Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | January 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002754 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1913 |
| Architectural style | Neo-Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; used as the Jamaica Arts Center, with gallery space on the first floor, classrooms and studios above, and offices in a 1938 rear addition. Condition is rated good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70373, -73.79882 (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 80002754.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7079407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.