Broad Street Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: VDHR File # 127-0375
Why it's listed
This stretch of West Broad Street in Richmond, with adjoining parts of North Laurel and Gilmer Streets, holds 32 brick commercial buildings erected between 1880 and 1943. It lies just west of an earlier historic district and matches it in scale, materials and style. Italianate design dominates, with examples of Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Beaux Arts and Art Deco. Development came in two phases: the north side was built out by about 1889 alongside the Carver Ward, mixing shops with upper-floor housing, while the south side filled in between about 1912 and 1930 for commercial uses. The 1907 Richmond & Chesapeake Bay Railway Station, designed by William C. Noland and Henry Baskervill and built by W.A. Chesterman, spurred that growth. Early tenants included tire dealers, a drug company, caterers, a blacksmith and auto repair shops. The area was listed for its role in Richmond's commercial history and its cohesive architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the area continues the architectural and historical character of the 1987 Broad Street district. Under Criterion A it represents important periods of Richmond's commercial and economic development, driven by the Carver Ward and the 1907 railway station. Under Criterion C it holds a cohesive group of late 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings in several styles.
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 04000851, listed August 11, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 709-916 W. Broad St., 308-310 N. Laurel St., 301-306 Gilmer St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | August 11, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000851 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1881-1943 |
| Architect / builder | William C. Noland; Henry Baskervill; W.A. Chesterman |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival, Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival, Late Gothic Revival, Beaux Arts Classicism; Commercial style; Modern Movement: Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions listed include specialty stores, businesses, restaurants and manufacturing, plus some vacant, not-in-use space. Many street-level storefronts have been modernized, though upper floors largely retain original character. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55043, -77.44939 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 04000851.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q138909162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.