American Can Company Building
Encyclopedia
The American Can Company Building is a historic former factory in the Northside
neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio
, United States
. Built in 1921, it is a concrete building with a concrete foundation and an asphalt
roof; five stories
tall, it has a total floor space of approximately 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²). Built by the American Can Company
, the factory was used to manufacture can-making machines, rather than producing the cans itself; it remained in operation until closure in 1963. Two years later, it was reopened by the Cleveland Machine Company, which used its first floor for machining
purposes; after their departure in 1978, it sat almost totally unused, with the only exceptions being small businesses such as T-shirt
printers and warehouse
operators.
In late 2005, a local redevelopment
company purchased the American Can Company Building, using a $500,000 loan from the city's community development
office. Expecting to have to pay another $800,000 to resolve longstanding environmental issues at the property, the company received a grant
of $750,000 from the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund. As this process was a significant component of a larger redevelopment project on the eastern portion of Northside, the American Can owners sought to renovate their property in a manner compatible with its historic nature. In 2006, the building was assessed against the guidelines of the National Register of Historic Places
, a federal historic preservation
program, and found to be eligible for inclusion on the Register. Besides starting the National Register nomination process, the owners applied for the building to be designated a historic site
by Cincinnati's city planning commission; such approval was granted in July 2007. Three months later, the National Park Service
added the building to the Register. The owners' ultimate goal was to convert the property into apartment
s and small shops. With renovations nearly complete, the building reopened as American Can Lofts in September, 2011.
Northside, Cincinnati
Northside is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was originally known as Cumminsville, but changed names to "Northside" several decades ago after I-74 divided the neighborhood into Northside and South Cumminsville...
neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1921, it is a concrete building with a concrete foundation and an asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
roof; five stories
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
tall, it has a total floor space of approximately 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²). Built by the American Can Company
American Can Company
The American Can Company was a manufacturer of tin cans. It was a member of the Tin Can Trust, that controlled a "large percentage of business in the United States in tin cans, containers, and packages of tin." It was formerly a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average from 1959–1991, though...
, the factory was used to manufacture can-making machines, rather than producing the cans itself; it remained in operation until closure in 1963. Two years later, it was reopened by the Cleveland Machine Company, which used its first floor for machining
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
purposes; after their departure in 1978, it sat almost totally unused, with the only exceptions being small businesses such as T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
printers and warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
operators.
In late 2005, a local redevelopment
Redevelopment
Redevelopment is any new construction on a site that has pre-existing uses.-Description:Variations on redevelopment include:* Urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on Brownfield land, such as the redevelopment of an industrial site...
company purchased the American Can Company Building, using a $500,000 loan from the city's community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
office. Expecting to have to pay another $800,000 to resolve longstanding environmental issues at the property, the company received a grant
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
of $750,000 from the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund. As this process was a significant component of a larger redevelopment project on the eastern portion of Northside, the American Can owners sought to renovate their property in a manner compatible with its historic nature. In 2006, the building was assessed against the guidelines of the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, a federal historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
program, and found to be eligible for inclusion on the Register. Besides starting the National Register nomination process, the owners applied for the building to be designated a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
by Cincinnati's city planning commission; such approval was granted in July 2007. Three months later, the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
added the building to the Register. The owners' ultimate goal was to convert the property into apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s and small shops. With renovations nearly complete, the building reopened as American Can Lofts in September, 2011.