Universal Terminal Company Dock and Warehouse
Also known as: Nicholson Cleveland Terminal
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 on filled land beside Lake Erie in Cleveland, this four-story reinforced concrete building served as a dock and warehouse for automobiles shipped by steamship from Detroit. The Universal Terminal Company, tied to the Nicholson shipping interests of Detroit, put it up in about three months, from August to October 1929. The trapezoidal structure measures 100 by 550 feet, with a concrete dock along its west side. Its red brick front is loosely Tudor in style and carries concrete reliefs of anchors, a steamship and a winged automobile tire. Cars were used through 1957, when railroads took over the business with multi-level cars. The building then became a major depot for newsprint serving Cleveland's newspapers and other Ohio dailies. A large steel-frame addition was added in 1964, and some windows and doors were blocked, though the building still resembles its early appearance. It is listed for its role in Cleveland's lake commerce and transportation.
Significance in brief: It is associated with Cleveland's early twentieth-century commercial and navigation history as a lake port. It is the only marine terminal in Cleveland designed exclusively for unloading and warehousing automobiles. Its Tudor-style brick facade carries concrete ornament symbolizing its function, and it later served as a newsprint depot.
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 83001954, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5451 N. Marginal Rd., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001954 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1929) |
| Architect / builder | Hunkin-Conkey Construction Company/The American Construction Company |
| Architectural style | Tudor (described as vaguely Tudor in style) with industrial concrete construction |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by commercial tenants and used for warehousing; the fourth floor is unoccupied. Condition is listed as good and altered. |
| Acreage | 6.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.52997, -81.65528 (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 83001954.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137699133
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.