West Franklin Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
This boundary increase extends the West Franklin Street Historic District northward to one city block in Richmond, centered on the 900 block of West Grace Street and the adjoining blocks of North Harrison and Shafer Streets. The area began as part of a fashionable residential neighborhood, and sixteen of its twenty-six buildings still reflect that era. They are two- to four-story brick, brownstone, limestone and sandstone houses in Italianate, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque and Tudor Revival modes, with two carriage houses. Several have storefront additions that fill their original setbacks. Ten later commercial buildings and a parking lot do not contribute. The addition was listed for its architecture, with a period of significance of 1870 to 1920. Its houses closely match the styles, materials and setbacks of the original district, and the pressure of commercial growth and the adjacent university has not erased that character.
Significance in brief: The sixteen contributing buildings share the Late Victorian styles, massing, materials and setbacks of the original West Franklin Street district, and were part of the same fashionable neighborhood. The nomination argues significance under Criterion C for architecture. Commercial development after 1920 has not obscured the original architectural character.
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 09000731, listed September 16, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 900 blk. West Grace St., 4000 blk. N. Harrison St., 300 blk. Shafer St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | September 16, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000731 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1870-1920 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian (Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque, Italianate), Tudor Revival, Moderne, Mixed |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All contributing buildings are described as in good condition. Current uses are largely commercial, with some residential, restaurant, education and vacant uses. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55059, -77.45233 (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 09000731.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903101
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.