Building at 205 East Constitution
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 in Victoria, Texas, this two-story commercial building at 205 East Constitution sits in the east portion of the central business district. Structural brick walls carry wood roof and floor systems, and a flat roof is hidden behind a parapet topped with a corbeled brick cornice. The symmetrical three-bay north facade is its most distinctive feature. Three round-arched openings of finely crafted brickwork serve as entrances, with double doors in the center and the flanking openings now boarded closed. Upper-story windows are wood sash double-hung units, and the center bay has a fanlight and a tripartite window with an unusual light pattern. The building was listed for its architecture. Its intricately detailed molded and corbeled brick cornice and Romanesque-style facade distinguish it as a well preserved example of turn-of-the-century commercial construction. The building remains in commercial use and is in good condition, though the north elevation has been sandblasted.
Significance in brief: The inventory form cites architecture as the basis of significance. An intricately detailed molded and corbeled brick cornice and a distinctive three-bay Romanesque facade mark it as a well preserved turn-of-the-century commercial building.
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 86002475, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 205 E. Constitution, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian commercial building with a Romanesque facade |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is listed as good, with the north elevation sandblasted. Present use is commercial, and the two flanking openings on the facade are boarded closed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79840, -97.00480 (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 86002475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002436
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.