Corlett Building
Also known as: Cleveland Cadillac Dealership; Downtown Chevrolet (CUY-157-1)
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, this four-story reinforced concrete building was designed as a Cadillac dealership and service center. Its south and east facades are clad in white terra cotta with Sullivanesque ornamentation, including a geometric starburst design between the second-story windows, a stringcourse of squares and plus signs, and the name Corlett above the entrance. The site once held the Dr. William T. Corlett residence, part of Millionaires' Row. The building was designed by Knox & Elliot, a firm remembered for terra cotta commercial buildings that contrasted with the Beaux-Arts style then common in Cleveland. It belongs to the city's early automobile row in eastern downtown, where showrooms were made to look like impressive office blocks. Cadillac left in 1925, and Downtown Chevrolet occupied it until 1965. Cleveland State University later converted it to classrooms and offices, and it has stood vacant since 2000.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it meets Criterion C as one of a small number of significant examples of terra cotta clad facades by the noted local firm Knox & Elliot. It also reflects early automobile showroom design and the shift of Euclid Avenue from a residential street to a commercial one.
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 03001101, listed October 29, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1923-35 Euclid Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | October 29, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001101 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914 |
| Architect / builder | Knox & Elliott |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century - Sullivanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since the College of Urban Affairs moved to a new building in 2000; the ground-floor showroom has been altered and the original entrance canopy removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Euclid Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.50151, -81.67799 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 03001101.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.