Ira Apartments
Also known as: Cleo's Apartments
Why it's listed
Ira Apartments is a three-story, 44-suite apartment building at the corner of Parkside Boulevard and Dorr Street in Toledo, Ohio, built in 1928-1929. Designed by architect Sidney E. Aftel for the Sam Davis Company, it combines brick with skintled coursing, false half-timbering over stucco, a slate roof with intersecting gables, and a sandstone foundation. Inside, the lobby has dark oak paneling, a sculpted stone fireplace, oak posts and a stained glass skylight. The building also held a ground-floor storefront, which housed an A&P and later a Kroger, and has attached garages. It was aimed at Toledo's growing middle class, with tenants including teachers, managers and university faculty. It is described as the best local example of Tudor Revival style in a large apartment building, and it reflects the work of Aftel and Sam Davis. The building was vacated in 1994 and has since been boarded and vandalized, though it has had little alteration since construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the best local expression of Tudor Revival design in a large apartment building, designed by architect Sidney E. Aftel for the Sam Davis Company. It reflects Sam Davis's role in apartment construction and operation for Toledo's growing middle class, and its suburban-style location, garages and grocery space were unusual for its time.
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 96000868, listed August 15, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1302 Parkside Blvd., Toledo |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | August 15, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000868 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Aftel, Sidney E. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacated and secured in 1994; boarded and subject to some vandalism, but retains much of its original architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.65298, -83.59385 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 96000868.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.