Two -Part Commercial Block

This is the most common style for small and moderate sized commercial buildings throughout the U.S. These buildings have two horizontal divisions: a lower zone used for retail stores; an upper zone used for offices, apartments, and meeting halls. The origin of this "shop-house" combination comes from Roman antiquity and developed into the standard form during the Middle Ages. Victorian versions of this style were most common from 1880-1890s in Eau Claire, although on the East Coast these versions appeared from the 1850-1880s.

Most Two Part Commercial Block structures have these features:   2-4 stories two horizontal divisions lower zone used for retail purposes upper zones used for apartments or offices

Type	1850	1860	1870	1880	1890	1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	Feature
Two-Part Commercial Block												Shops & Offices

Created by Heather Slick. June 6, 1997.