Proposed North Avondale Local Historic District
Background
The North Avondale Neighborhood Association (NANA) and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney are proposing the designation of a local historic district in North Avondale, for the purpose of preserving the neighborhood’s historic resources and ensuring that new construction within the district is compatible with its historic character. Consultant Sullebarger Associates, in partnership with NANA, conducted research and prepared the designation report, proposed guidelines, and other application materials.
Proposed District
The North Avondale Historic District is significant in the history of Cincinnati as an upper middle-class residential neighborhood developed between 1896 and 1940. Development of North Avondale began in earnest in 1893 with the Rose Hill Park Subdivision, mostly on the west side of Reading Road, followed by other subdivisions on the east side. The force behind Rose Hill Park was Robert Mitchell, the wealthy owner of the Mitchell & Rammelsburg Furniture Company, who invested his profits in real estate. Buyers who built homes in the neighborhood included other captains of industry such as grocer Barney H. Kroger, clockmaker and jeweler Frank Herschede, and brewer Albert Lackman. As the neighborhood developed in the early twentieth century, North Avondale became an enclave for successful German Jews who moved there from the West End.
The North Avondale Historic District is architecturally significant as an example of the landscape-lawn approach to a suburban subdivision defined by a park-like character with continuous lawns and picturesque curving streets. Gaslights add to the historic ambiance. The district is also significant for the quality of its substantial high-style houses on large lots. Homes in North Avondale represent an unusually rich array of architectural styles (such as Queen Anne, Shingle, Richardsonian Romanesque, Italian Renaissance, Beaux Arts, Neoclassical, Chateauesque, French Eclectic, Swiss Chalet, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Prairie, and Craftsman) that typify the period of significance. All of the contributing homes are individually distinctive, and many were designed by prominent local architects including John Scudder Adkins; Grosvenor Atterbury; Matthew H. Burton; John Henri Deeken; Desjardins & Hayward; Elzner & Anderson; A. Lincoln Fechheimer; Charles H. Ferber; S. S. Godley; Harry Hake; Samuel Hannaford & Sons; Anthony Kunz, Jr.; Harry Price; Herbert Spielman; and Tietig & Lee.
Example Structures
Below are a sample of typical structures that exemplify the characteristics of the district.
Upcoming Meetings
- Public Staff Conference
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Held virtually on Zoom. To register, fill out the form at the following link and the meeting invitation will be sent directly to you: https://cincinnati-oh.zoom.us/meeting/register/yvtHckzQQmGtDYXk2wUvbQ#/registration
The purpose of this meeting is to provide information about the project and gather public comments to be used in the staff report to the City Planning Commission. No decisions will be made. - Historic Conservation Board
TBD - City Planning Commission
TBD - Housing and Growth Committee
TBD
Related Documents
Contact
For questions or assistance, please contact:
Gabrielle Couch, City Planner
gabrielle.couch@cincinnati-oh.gov | (513) 352-4882