Washington Terrace Apartments
Why it's listed
Washington Terrace Apartments is a three-story apartment complex on the west side of Washington Avenue in Elyria, just north of the bridge over the Black River. Built around 1900 in the Jacobethan style, it has a stone foundation, masonry walls, and a gabled roof with asphalt shingles. The front facade is brick with wood and stucco on the upper floors, and it fits the many large mansions that once lined the street. The sides and rear use a less expensive brick and have large outdoor porches on each level that also serve as access. It is regarded as one of Elyria's first large apartment complexes and has stayed popular because of its closeness to downtown. It was supposedly financed by William G. Sharp, an Elyria figure who became ambassador to France under President Wilson. The small lot overlooks the falls of the Black River and the gorge containing Cascade Park. The building still serves as apartments.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as one of Elyria's first large apartment complexes, valued for its closeness to downtown. It is also noted as significant for its Jacobethan architecture in Elyria. It was supposedly financed by William G. Sharp, an Elyrian who served as ambassador to France under President Wilson.
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 79002713, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Washington Ave., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002713 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Jacobethan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as apartments; interior in fair condition and exterior in good condition. The form says it is not endangered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.36959, -82.10673 (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 79002713.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138497441
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.