Plaza Hotel
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of East Long and Hamilton Streets in Columbus, this three-story brick building was constructed around 1895 in the Italianate style. It is seven bays wide and eleven deep, with a flat roof, stone foundation, carved stone lintels over the upper windows and a bracketed metal cornice with a central gable. The storefront has been covered with perma-stone, but most original features remain. Few late 19th century commercial buildings survive on East Long Street between I-71 and Nelson Road, an area that grew as the city expanded eastward and later lost many structures to freeway construction and decline. The upper floors began as apartments and became hotel rooms in 1929, when the building took the name Plaza Hotel. In the 1940s and 1950s, developer Bennett Dickerson leased it and opened it to Black guests who were turned away elsewhere, including musicians playing nearby clubs. At listing it was vacant, with rehabilitation planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent, largely intact example of late 19th century commercial architecture on Columbus's near east side, where few such buildings survive along East Long Street. It retains Italianate details such as carved stone lintels and a bracketed metal cornice. It also has a history as a hotel that welcomed Black travelers and musicians in the 1940s and 1950s.
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 84001041, listed December 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 736-740 E. Long St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001041 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1895 (1800-1899) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as currently vacant, with plans for substantial rehabilitation; the storefront has been altered with perma-stone facing but the building is in good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96729, -82.98150 (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 84001041.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104821796
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.