Park Flats
Also known as: Park Apartments
Why it's listed
Park Flats, also called Park Apartments, is a four-story apartment building at 2378-2384 Park Avenue in Cincinnati's Walnut Hills neighborhood. Developer Charles Mayer built it in 1904, shortly after moving from insurance into real estate; the architect is not known. The building has a rusticated stone base, buff-colored brick upper stories, two beltcourses per floor and a heavy bracketed cornice. Eight three-story bay windows line the Park Avenue front, and four arched entrances with opalescent glass fanlights serve the apartments. The nomination values the design as a blend of Chicago Commercial style functionality, seen in the repeated tall bays that bring in light and ventilation, with the classical taste of the early twentieth century. Its location near Peebles Corner, the area's main commercial center, and two blocks from downtown streetcars attracted residents such as clerks, stenographers and merchants. Other apartment buildings of the period in the city have bays, but not continuous or taller than two stories.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a local example of combining elements of the Chicago Commercial style with the classicism of the early 20th century in a residential building. Its repeated multi-story bay windows recall early Chicago skyscrapers, while the rusticated base, beltcourses and classical details reflect a simple Second Renaissance Revival treatment. It also shows a developer's choice of a location near Peebles Corner and downtown streetcar lines.
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 83001986, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2378-2384 Park Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001986 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Charles Mayer, developer (architect not known) |
| Architectural style | Chicago Commercial style combined with Second Renaissance Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied; the form lists the condition as good and altered, with a brick wall on the rear porches now stuccoed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.12551, -84.48596 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 83001986.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7137732
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.