Building at 140 Biltmore Avenue
Why it's listed
Built about 1913 to 1917 on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, this two-story apartment building is constructed of rubble granite and finished in smooth tan stucco. Its low hipped roof carries four chimneys, and the central two bays of the four-bay front project forward, each with a two-story porch. A doorway with a plain molded surround sits in the center pavilion, and a street entrance opens at grade on the north side. Cast-concrete balustrades and molded concrete urns decorate the upper porch level. The building is the latest of a row of three granite and stucco apartment houses on the lower end of the avenue. Its massing and detailing recall English and European models, which was unusual for North Carolina at the time. The row may have been designed by English emigre architect R. S. Smith or influenced by his work. The building also shows the growing use of concrete in Asheville for ornamental and structural elements.
Significance in brief: The building is one of a row of granite and stucco apartment buildings at the lower end of Biltmore Avenue, an unusual form for North Carolina. Its massing and detailing are described as reminiscent of European or English models rather than typical Late Queen Anne or Colonial Revival residences. The nomination suggests it may have been influenced by, or designed by, English emigre architect R. S. Smith, and notes the increasing use of concrete in its ornamental and structural elements.
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 79003325, listed April 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 140 Biltmore Ave., Asheville |
|---|---|
| County | Buncombe County |
| Listed | April 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003325 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1913-1917 |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.59045, -82.55089 (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 79003325.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17986148
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.