Redington Block
Why it's listed
Built around 1890, this three-story brick commercial building sits on the east side of Middle Avenue in Elyria, between Broad and Second Streets. It has a rectangular plan, a sandstone foundation, a flat composition roof and about 50 feet of street frontage. Its facade is richly ornamented, with projecting bay windows at both ends of the upper floors, arched window openings framed in stone trim and an elaborate masonry cornice. The ground-level storefronts have been altered, and the upper-floor offices are in fair condition. The block is regarded as an important local example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It also stands on a stretch of Middle Avenue once called "Cheapside," a name reportedly earned because stores there charged less than those on Broad Street. Neighboring buildings are of similar age and height, yet this one stands out for its ornament. Ely Park lies across the street.
Significance in brief: It is described as an important example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style in the city. It also stands on a section of Middle Avenue once known as "Cheapside," where store prices were supposedly lower than on Broad Street.
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 79002723, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E side of Middle Ave. between Broad and 2nd Sts. 2nd bldg from Ind. St., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002723 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in good condition; interior upper-floor offices in fair condition. Ground-level storefronts have been altered. Used as a commercial building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Elyria Downtown-West Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.36680, -82.10644 (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 79002723.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138507546
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.