Park Flats facts for kids
The Park Flats are an apartment building located in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Built in 1904, this four-story brick building has a unique mix of architectural styles.
Quick facts for kids |
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Park Flats
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front and southern side of the flats
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2378-2384 Park Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Charles Mayer |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial, Chicago School |
| Part of | Over-the-Rhine Historic District (ID85002835) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001986 |
| Added to NRHP | September 8, 1983 |
Contents
A Special Building Design
Around 1900, a man named Charles Mayer decided to try something new. He used to work in the insurance business, but then he started building and selling properties. One of his big projects was the Park Flats.
Clever Architectural Ideas
Charles Mayer designed the Park Flats with many clever and new ideas. For example, the building has large bay windows with metal frames. These windows stick out from the building, letting in more light.
It also has two decorative bands, called belt courses, on each story. These bands add a nice touch to the brickwork. The building uses bricks of many different colors, making it look even more interesting.
Mixing Old and New Styles
The Park Flats building is shaped like a rectangle. It uses materials like stone and stucco in its design. What makes it truly special is how it combines different architectural styles.
It blends parts of the older Neoclassical architecture style, which uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, with features from the newer Chicago School. The Chicago School was a style that focused on tall buildings with strong, simple designs.
Bringing the Neighborhood Back to Life
In the late 2000s, a developer named Ed Horgan started a project. He wanted to fix up several apartment buildings in the Walnut Hills neighborhood. This area used to be home to many wealthy people. However, over time, it faced challenges and wasn't as nice as it used to be.
Horgan believed his project could help improve the area. He hoped to attract young adults with good jobs to move in and help make the neighborhood better.
Restoring Historic Buildings
Besides the Park Flats, Ed Horgan bought and renovated many other properties. One of the most important was the old Verona Apartments.
When his project was finished, the Park Flats building had thirty-six apartments. They featured nice details like wooden floors.
A Historic Landmark
The Park Flats building has a special historical status. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States. It earned this honor because of its very important and unique architecture.
Two years later, a large part of Walnut Hills became a special historic district. This area was also listed on the National Register as the Peeble's Corner Historic District. The Park Flats was one of the many buildings that helped make this district historic.
