Columbus Transfer Company Warehouse
Also known as: Carr Building
Why it's listed
Located about one mile north of the Statehouse in Columbus, the Carr Building is a five-story brick warehouse on a stone foundation, measuring roughly 65 by 125 feet. Its western four bays went up in 1882, the eastern four bays were added around 1900, and a southeast corner section came last, yet the facade reads as a single design. Details include round-arched fourth-floor windows, brick pilasters ending in decorative arches, and corbelled brickwork along the parapet. The ground-floor storefronts have been altered, but the original wooden double-hung sash remains. The building stood in a district that became the city's transportation and wholesaling center after the first railroad arrived in 1850. Later office construction, parking lots, and a convention center removed Union Station and most neighboring warehouses. The Columbus Transfer Company occupied the building from 1882 to 1932, followed by a plumbing firm from 1936 to about 1979. It was listed for its architectural quality and rarity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the best remaining nineteenth-century warehouses in Columbus's north end commercial area. Its architectural detail and embellishment raise it above a typical utilitarian warehouse. It is also a rare survivor in an area once filled with warehouses and railroad-related commerce, most of which has been lost to redevelopment.
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 83001966, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Nationwide Blvd., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001966 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 and 1900- (specific date 1882) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant at the time of nomination; recently purchased for rehabilitation into office use. Storefronts have been altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96867, -83.00112 (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 83001966.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104881534
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.