Bank Block Building
Why it's listed
Bank Block is a brick commercial building occupying a full block of Grandview Avenue in Grandview Heights, Ohio. Built in 1928 by developer Don Monroe Casto, it alternates one- and two-story sections, with sixteen ground-floor storefronts and upstairs offices and apartments. Georgian Revival touches include quoins, stone surrounds and a concrete belt course, and the name appears in Art Deco-inspired lettering. A rear lot held 350 cars. The building is a local example of the "taxpayer strip," a suburban shopping form shaped by the automobile. Casto named it for its first tenant, First Citizens Trust, and early occupants included Kroger, Piggly Wiggly and A&P. It was among his first strip centers and the largest of its type in the Columbus area. Later changes include a restaurant addition at the north end, stucco on one section, new upper windows, and removal of parapets and balconies, yet the storefront openings, archways and Georgian Revival details remain. Its significance period runs from 1928 to 1947.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an example of the "taxpayer strip," a linear suburban commercial form designed around the automobile, and that it was one of Don Casto's first strip shopping centers and the largest of its kind in metropolitan Columbus. It marks a midpoint between nineteenth-century Main Street commerce and later auto-oriented retail. It is nominated under Criteria A and C for commerce and community planning and development.
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 97000510, listed September 15, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1255--1293 Grandview Ave., Grandview |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 15, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000510 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1947 |
| Architect / builder | Don Monroe Casto Developer, Columbus, Ohio |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & Early 20th Century Revivals: Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in commercial use. Upstairs apartments are now used as offices. Storefronts have been altered, with awnings added, second-floor windows replaced and iron balconies removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.98285, -83.04543 (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 97000510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q136346041
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.