Buildings Prior to Urban Renewal in Niles, Ohio.
Niles 1950-1970
While the residential areas of Niles were expanding rapidly after World War II, the downtown area in the 1950’s remained much the same as it had been in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Once a thriving business community, the downtown area began its decline in the 1930’s. The Saturday night shoppers who crowded the downtown streets had disappeared and much of the sense of community that had highlighted the city’s history was lost.

The Hoffman Store fire of 1962 was a real tragedy. It marked the beginning of the real decline of the downtown area. Because of the fire, adjacent buildings, Ragazzo’s and Pritchard’s had to be torn down due to smoke and heat damage.

Years of planning under a federal urban renewal program has transformed the downtown area. By the end of 1976, the business district that had been laid out by James Heaton has been almost completely razed. The local businessman is gone and little retail business exists in downtown Niles.

The construction of Strip Malls in McKinley Heights(1953), The Village Center Plaza(1962), and the Eastwood Mall(1968) offered shoppers access to larger retail stores with parking outside of the downtown area, this hastened the demise of the downtown.

PO1.185

In 1976, work under the Federal Urban Renewal Program began to transform the downtown area as buildings built in the late 1870s - 1950s were demolished.

The Niles City Police and Fire Departments were relocated to the new Niles City Municipal Building on State Street which included a new jail and Municipal Court facilities.

With the demolition of the buildings on State Street, the street itself was moved east closer to Mosquito Creek providing additional space between North Main Street and East State Street. A new one-way street between East State Street and East Park Avenue provides access to downtown buildings and egress for fire department trucks going out on a call. Except for the west side of Main Street, no buildings predating 1910 remain in the downtown area.

The following graphic photographs were taken to illustrate the condition of the buildings on State Street, East Park Avenue, and Main Street. The images were used in the application for Federal funds to demolish old buildings so that modern business facilities could be constructed.

The Commercial Hotel, built in 1917, located 117 East State Street (south side) in
downtown Niles, before urban renewal.
PO1.179

Photo taken of Niles Shoe Repair and Niles Chinese Laundry located at 130 and 132 East State Street in downtown Niles before urban renewal. Dated June 7, 1972 PO1.155

Photo of building located at 85 East State Street in down town Niles before urban renewal. Bernard Music is located in right hand corner of picture. Dated June 7, 1972 PO1.149

Photo taken of the Bahm Shoe Center located at 43 East State Street, Niles. Formerly a department store. PO1.126

The State Liquor Store, Little Annies’ Inn and Amvets were located on the west side of State Street. PO1.95

Photo taken of the north side of East State Street with Jensen’s Hardware on the west or inside of bend on State Street. PO1.166

Photo taken of The Spot Restaurant located at 13 East Park Avenue (south side) in downtown Niles before the advent of urban renewal. PO1.173

Picture taken of Sam Bernard’s gas station located at 32 East Park Avenue(north side)
and Pine Alley before urban renewal. PO1.145

Picture taken of Rocky’s Barbershop located at 50 East Park Avenue in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.144

Photo taken of the old Police and Fire Station built in 1889 located on the east side of the Post Office, on West Park Avenue in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.178

Front view of the old Police and Fire Station from West Park Avenue and Franklin Alley. Originally the City Building, it was enlarged for the Police and Fire departments in 1931. S11.168

The final stages of the demolition of the Antler Hotel on the northeast corner of Main Street and East Park Avenue. Dated June 1976. SO3.83a

Photo taken of the Anchor Inn and the Western Auto buildings on the south side of East State Street in Niles. PO1.118

Photo taken of Star Jewelry and Seiber’s Sporting Goods located on the east side of Main Street in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.171

Photo taken of J & J Discount Store on the southeast corner of Main and State Streets in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.157

Photo taken of The Wooden Dipper at 55 East State Street in down town Niles before urban renewal. PO1.158

Photo taken of the Landmark Bar
located in the Unger Building on
East State Street in downtown Niles.
PO1.182

Photo of the corner of East Park Avenue and East State Street in downtown Niles. PO1.298

North side of East State Street at South Main Street. S11.317

Photo taken of Main Beverage located at 31 North Main Street, Niles Dry Cleaners, Rudy’s Restaurant, Pugh Hardware in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.163

Photo taken of McKinley Federal Savings and Loan, and the Arden Building, (also The Old Main Ale & Chowder House) located on the site of the McKinley home in downtown Niles before urban renewal. The Arden building and the bank have been razed to make way for the replica of the McKinley Birthplace. PO1.172

Looking north from the curve on East State Street. Grand’s Unclaimed Freight, Bahm’s Shoe Center, Gerke Radio & Television, Joe Antenucci Plumbing, Antique Shop, Valsi Cleaners, Lou Carbone Plumbing, and Fusco Dry Cleaners. All these buildings were demolished during urban renewal. PO11.6

Photo taken of 39 East Park Avenue, Niles. This building is the Victory Cafe. PO1.116

Photo taken of Schink's Marine and T.V. located at 33 East State Street (east side) in down town Niles before urban renewal. PO1.148

View of the IOOF Building and Calvin's Drug Store at corner of North Main Street and West Park Avenue. These two buildings were the last to be demolished in January 1990. S11.265

Photo taken of parking meters used in the
city parking lot before urban renewal. The Niles Bank Building rises on the skyline
in the center of picture. PO1.177

Photo taken of the McKinley Cab Company located at 449 Pine Alley in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.159

Photo taken of The United Cigar located at 28 East Park Avenue on the corner of Park and Pine Alley in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.174

Photo taken of Frank Bleakley’s Sign Company in the basement of the old Warner Theatre Building on State Street. PO1.165

Photo taken of the old bowling alley, 162 East State Street, down town Niles. The Veteran's of Foreign Wars are located upstairs. Note also Benedict Dry Cleaners next door and The Groove dancing lounge. PO1.194

Photo taken of the Ideal Deptartment Store located on the east side of South Main Street in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.169

Many of the brick buildings on East State Street and South Main Street that were razed during urban renewal had been built before 1882 as shown in this panoramic map of Niles.

The 1934 map of Niles shows the buildings when the downtown was filled with three movie theatres, many restaurants, jewelry stores, clothing stores for men and women, hardware stores, pool halls, and churches.

Photo taken of rear facade of unidentified building located on the east side of East State Street (over Mosquito Creek) in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.193

Photo taken of rear facade of unidentified building located on the east side of East State Street (over Mosquito Creek) in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.192

Photo taken of Commercial Hotel on East Park Avenue and East State Street in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.180

Picture of detail of rear façade of
building located in Niles, overhanging Mosquito Creek. PO1.142

Photo taken showing marked deterioration on windows on building located in downtown Niles before urban renewal. PO1.130