Dixon Hall Apartments
Why it's listed
Dixon Hall Apartments is a four-story brick apartment building at 3834 Prospect Avenue in Cleveland, built in 1905 and attributed to the firm Searles and Hirsh. It has a deep ell-shaped plan, a flat and gable roof, and two large projecting bays with gables on the rear wing. Stone trim, Tudor-style window frames and mullions, gabled dormers with pendants, and a classically detailed main entrance define its appearance. The design mixes Tudor features with the more utilitarian Commercial style, with little added ornament; much of its character comes from brick and stone. It was designed to be practical and to appeal to upper-class tenants. The building is one of the notable apartment buildings erected along Prospect Avenue around the turn of the century, which is the basis for its recognition. An ornate cast iron fence and gate in front of the property add to its significance. It remains in residential use, and its exterior is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its architecture and as one of the important apartment buildings built on Prospect Avenue around the turn of the century. Its design blends Tudor and Commercial styles and was meant to appeal to upper-class tenants. The ornate cast iron fence and gate add to its significance.
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 84000225, listed November 1, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3814 Prospect Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | November 1, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000225 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Searles and Hirsh (architects); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Eclectic-Tudor (Tudor-Eclectic, with Commercial style elements) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior condition listed as good; present use is residential. Interior condition unknown. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Midtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.50166, -81.65990 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 84000225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137704708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.