LaSalle Theater Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of E. 185th Street and Kildeer Avenue in Cleveland, this 1927 building combines a movie theater, four storefronts and five apartments under one roof. International Savings and Loan Company built it, expecting growth in the North Collinwood area, and hired Cleveland architect Nicola Petti to design it. The west front is faced in Indiana limestone and shows a restrained Neo-Classical Revival design, with a projecting temple front, pilasters, a raked pediment, string courses and an original canopy marquee. Inside, the auditorium keeps classical plaster ceiling and wall detailing, and the corner storefront was originally a bank. Petti designed eleven theaters in Ohio, and this is one of the three that survive. The building was designated a Cleveland Landmark in 2008. It is currently vacant, and roof repairs were done in 2010 to stabilize it. Its architecture and its role in the commercial development of E. 185th Street underlie its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues architectural significance as a local primary example of restrained Neo-Classical Revival style, designed by Cleveland architect Nicola Petti. It is one of only three surviving theaters by Petti and is described as the most elaborate commercial building on its street. It also anchored commercial growth in the North Collinwood area.
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 11000365, listed June 15, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 819-829 E. 185th St., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | June 15, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000365 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Nicola Petti (architect); International Savings and Loan Company (builder/developer) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival/Neo-Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed as vacant/not in use; roof repairs were made in 2010 to stop leaks. The theater was used as an antique automobile museum from about 1995. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.58491, -81.54967 (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 11000365.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q43160039
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.