Smaltz Building
Also known as: Smaltz-Goodwin Building
Why it's listed
Completed in 1911 at the southeast corner of North 12th and Wood Streets in Philadelphia, this ten-story factory is built entirely of reinforced concrete. Ballinger & Perrot designed it in the Commercial Style with a Classical Revival layout, and Turner Concrete Steel Construction built it. The building was constructed for the Smaltz-Goodwin Company, a manufacturer of fine women's welted and turned shoes, which occupied it from 1912 until closing in 1933. The company was regarded as the largest exclusive maker of such shoes in Philadelphia during the 1910s and 1920s, with a reported workforce of about 300 in 1919. The building is significant for its ties to the city's shoe industry and as an early example of reinforced-concrete factory design. Its concrete framing, scored quoin-like verticals, molded belt courses and large window bays remain largely intact. The building is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its association with the Smaltz-Goodwin Company, a manufacturer of fine women's shoes there from 1911 to 1933, reflecting Philadelphia's shoe industry. It also holds architectural significance as an early reinforced-concrete industrial building in the Commercial Style with Classical Revival layout.
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 05000759, listed July 27, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 315 N. 12th St., Phiadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | July 27, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000759 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911-1933 |
| Architect / builder | Ballinger & Perrot (architect); Turner Concrete Steel Construction (builder) |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style with Classical Revival elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant; planned for rehabilitation as rental housing, according to the document. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Callowhill Industrial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95995, -75.15804 (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.
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 05000759.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7543726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.