La Tosca Flats
Why it's listed
La Tosca Flats is a nine-unit apartment building completed in 1915 at the corner of Observatory Avenue and Edwards Road in Cincinnati's Hyde Park neighborhood. Rising three stories above a raised basement, it is faced in chocolate-colored, wire-cut brick with belt courses, a corbeled cornice and stone entrance tablets bearing the building's name. Inside, apartments have angled doorways, oak woodwork with a fumed finish, built-in kitchen cabinets and distinctive wooden mantelpieces with green and gold tile. Its design draws on the Prairie and Craftsman styles, which were uncommon for apartment buildings in Cincinnati, where classical and revival styles were far more typical. The building is credited to Alfred E. Andersen. Its listing rests on architecture: it is regarded as a distinguished local example of a Prairie-style small apartment house that has changed little since construction. Original windows, interior detailing and layout survive, and later changes such as a basement shop doorway and rear murals are not visible from the street.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a distinguished and uncommon example of the Prairie style applied to a small apartment building in Cincinnati. It is evaluated within the context of apartment house development in the city from about 1910 to 1930. It retains much of its original masonry detailing, windows, woodwork and mantelpieces, and has a high degree of integrity.
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 99000096, listed February 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2700 Observatory Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | February 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000096 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Andersen, Alfred E. |
| Architectural style | Early 20th century American movements: Craftsman (Prairie style influence) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as multiple dwellings, with a dress store in the basement; alterations described as minimal and largely reversible. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.13808, -84.44254 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 99000096.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6465446
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.