Police Station No. 7
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 by the City of Cincinnati, this police station at 355 McMillan Street was designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons, with Charles Rosentiel as builder. It is a one-and-a-half-story brick building on a rock-faced ashlar foundation, with a rectangular plan, an asbestos shingle roof and a three-bay front. Romanesque features include arched windows and doors, a smooth rock-faced belt course, and two gabled wall dormers, one on the front and one on the side. A small chimney with a pilaster and acanthus leaf detail at its base rises from the interior. The building sits close to a busy intersection among buildings of mixed style, function and scale, and the nomination calls it a strong corner building that contributes to the visual integrity of the neighborhood. It now houses the Fairview Arts Center, whose use has slightly altered the doors and windows. It was listed as one of several Cincinnati patrol stations.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as a strong corner building that contributes to the visual integrity of its neighborhood. It was constructed by the city as a police station in 1895 and is part of a thematic group of Cincinnati patrol stations. Its Romanesque design and rock-faced details are noted as distinguishing features.
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 81000437, listed May 18, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 355 McMillan St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | May 18, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Hannaford & Sons (architect); Charles Rosentiel (builder) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an art center (Fairview Arts Center); exterior condition listed as good, with slight alterations to doors and windows. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.12807, -84.52526 (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 81000437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7209517
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.