I Hate Mondays

February 2026.

The Broadway Apartments (listed on the NRHP as the Garfield-Broad Apartments), an uncommon example of Jacobethan Revival architecture, are one of the remaining “courtyard apartments” that once lined opulent East Broad Street. I really liked the picturesque medieval design of the complex and its terra-cotta details.

The Broadway Apartments are located at 775 East Broad Street in the Olde Towne East neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. They are bordered by Broad Street and Broad Street Presbyterian Church to the north, Capital Street to the south, houses to the east, and buildings in the East Broad Street Historic District to the west.

History

The apartments in 1981. (NRHP listing)

The Broadway Apartments were built in 1929 in the Jacobethan Revival style, though there are also some Tudor Revival elements such as half-timbering. The building was commissioned by developer H. O. Chapman, and the 49 apartments were built at a cost of $200,000. Their architect is unknown, but the builder was Galbreath & Leonard. Apparently, other apartment buildings were constructed in a similar style nearby on Parsons Avenue, which have since been demolished.

These types of apartments were popular with young professionals or upper-class elderly people, who were drawn to the proximity to downtown and lack of grounds to maintain. The exterior remains in good condition today, indicating that despite these apartments’ age, the owner properly cared for the building.

Photos

North facade as viewed from across Broad Street:

The design is symmetrical, with two wings on the sidewalk flanking an interior courtyard. Each wing has a tall gable and bay window, along with a crenellated tower at the corners.

Much of the glitz is left behind on the Garfield Avenue side, though, as the facade there is largely brick with few decorative elements:

Rustic wooden sign with the building’s name:

The terra-cotta decor on the exterior is very interesting. I like this colonnette with a twisty shaft embedded in the corner:

A portion of the facade here is half-timbered, and the voids are filled in with different bonds of brick:

The pointed hood mold of this window indicates the Gothic Revival influence of Jacobethan Revival architecture.

No archers atop this tower:

I’ve always loved the interior courtyards of these apartments.

I’m sure any seating here has been removed to discourage loitering from the local “riff-raff,” but I bet it was similar to Mendoza House at Ohio State or Greystone Court in the Short North with lots of benches.

The two main entrances have fun decorative portals with relief panels and little rosettes:

Detail of the relief:

Broad Street Presbyterian viewed from the courtyard:

The terra-cotta ornament and subtle material details are pretty cool on this one. Definitely a fun hidden gem.

Sources:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71985196

https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/columbusmaps/id/4648/rec/8