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    The Alvarado Historic District in Phoenix Arizona

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    The History of Alvarado Historic District in Phoenix Arizona

    Also known as Alvarado Place; Alvarado Place Subdivisions 
    Roughly bounded by Central Ave., Oak St., 3rd St. and Palm Ln., Phoenix 

    (170 acres, 33 buildings) 
    Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event 
    Architect, builder, or engineer: Kelley, C. Lewis, et al. 
    Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival, Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman 
    Area of Significance: Community Planning And Development, Architecture 
    Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949, 1950-1974 
    Historic Function: Domestic 
    Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling 
    Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic 
    Current Sub-function: Business, Single Dwelling

     

    Pioneering Stock

    In 1623, the sailing ship ANNE left England, bound for colonial America. Among the passengers landing in New England was William Heard, whose family settled in Massachusetts and played an active role in forging the new American democracy.

    Some three centuries and seven generations later, the pioneering legacy of the Heard family continued to exert itself, this time in the distant desert climes of Arizona. On the eve of the 20th century, in the territorial capital of Arizona, William’s descendant, Dwight B. Heard, would become a major force in the life of the new-born community. His accomplishments form a chronicle of the early history of Phoenix, the Valley, and the State of Arizona. One chapter of this record reveals, in microcosm, the breadth of Heard’s dramatic influence upon the shape of this emerging region, as his efforts in politics, business, and the arts converged. It lead to the creation of one of the most distinctive collections of residential architecture in the city of Phoenix - Alvarado.

    An Ancient Source Of Life

    The life of present-day Phoenix commenced in 1867, when Civil War soldier, prospector, promoter, and speculator John William, known as Jack Swilling, began to irrigate and cultivate land along the northern bank of the Salt River. Inspired by the remnants of ancient Hohokam canals, Swilling established a company to supply the U.S. Army troops at Camp McDowell, twenty miles to the northeast. His activities attracted additional settlers, and by 1870, the community boasted a population of 235 with 1,500 acres of land under cultivation. In that same year, the terrain was surveyed and laid out in a square-mile grid pattern. With the reservation of a central townsite, Phoenix was born.

    Because the arid climate required extensive irrigation to support crops and sustain the population, Phoenix did not become an instant boomtown. Rather, the town experienced steady growth as a supply center for military, government, and mining operations. Weathering the economic depression of the mid-1870s, Phoenix began to flourish at the end of the decade as rising agricultural prices led to prosperity.

    Patterns of development emerged with the growth of thriving commercial and residential districts along the major north-south thoroughfare, Center Street, now Central Avenue. Roughly bounded by Central Avenue, Third Street, Oak Street and Palm Lane, the future site of Alvarado was two miles north of the city’s center, and still just vacant desert. But rapid growth soon would propel development northward. In 1879, the Southern Pacific Rail line made Phoenix more accessible with the extension of its line to within thirty miles south of town. With incorporation of the city in 1881, the stage was set for a dramatic new era.

    In 1885, completion of the Arizona Canal provided the Valley with 41 additional miles of irrigation, opening up 100,000 acres of desert land to agricultural development. The economic impact of the Canal and the promotional efforts of its builder, W. J. Murphy, brought a period of rapid growth and “boosterism” to Phoenix and the Sale River Valley. Phoenix was selected as the Territorial Capital in 1889. A flurry of municipal activity established water, sewer, gas, and electric utility franchises. The city’s population tripled between 1885 and 1890.

    Visions In The Desert

    Arriving in Phoenix in 1895, Dwight B. Heard quickly assessed the Valley’s great potential and grasped the limitations imposed by the cycle of floods and drought which plagued the Valley. Motivated by investments in land and agriculture, he became an active force in efforts to promote federal projects that would harness the Valley’s water. With successful passage in 1902 of the National Reclamation Act, Heard applied his efforts locally where he served as a county water commissioner, helping to lay the groundwork that led to construction of the Roosevelt Dam. Completed in 1911, the dam tamed the waters of the Salt River, transforming the Valley by providing both stable irrigation and protection from inundating floods.

    In 1903, Heard and his wife Marie constructed a 6,000-square-foot Spanish Colonial Revival mansion they named “Casa Blanca.” Located at the corner of Monte Vista and Central, the home was the cornerstone of future Alvarado and was a frequent stop for visitors and dignitaries from throughout the nation. Sensing the promise this north central location held, Heard purchased the entire quarter section of land on which his estate was located. In 1909, he subdivided the 160 acres, which ranged from Central Ave to Seventh Street and McDowell Road to Oak Street, in to 32 parcels of five acres each. Intended for upscale, estate size homes, the project, named Los Olivos, was the most prestigious of the early suburban

    homesite subdivisions with the largest lots available. Preparing the project for sale, Heard provided numerous plantings throughout the subdivision, including hundreds of palm trees.

    Information, maps and photographs provided courtesy:
    Historic Preservation Office of the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department
    200 West Washington Street
    Phoenix, Arizona 85003
    (602) 261-8600

    • Life in the Alvarado Historic District Today 

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    • History of the Alvarado Historic District  

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  • Life in the Alvarado Historic District Today 


    Schools Near The Alvarado Historic District


    Homes For Sale in the Alvarado Historic District


    History of the Alvarado Historic District  


    Dining & Shopping near the Alvarado Historic District


    The Latest Sold Properties in the Alvarado Historic District


    How much is your Alvarado home worth?

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    Welcome to historicphoenix.com, your #1 internet resource for buying and selling historic Alvarado real estate. On this site, you will be able to find nearby school information, restaurants and grocery stores, buyer resources, seller resources, and search all Alvarado homes for sale. Our goal is to provide you with the most valuable information and service regarding historic Alvarado real estate and homes for sale. Through this site, we provide you with access to MLS listings and resources for buying and selling a home, but most of all, an easy way to access expert guidance as your time to buy or sell Alvarado real estate approaches. 

     

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    In today's real estate market, it takes more effort, time, and resources to sell your Alvarado home. We are personally committed and passionate not only about selling your home, but selling it for maximum market value. We offer our clients a full line of services and a network of service providers to not only provide you with maximum market exposure through our extensive and aggressive marketing plan, but to provide a tailor-made solution to handle all aspects of your real estate transaction including pre-listing preparation to best showcase your home. We also work with an extended list of service providers who can help meet all your needs related to the sale of your Alvarado home. Find out what your historic Alvarado home is worth TODAY.

     

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  • Alvarado Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Arcadia Neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Ashland Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Brentwood Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Campus Vista Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Central Avenue Estates in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Cheery Lynn Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Coronado Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Country Club Manor Neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Country Club Park Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Del Norte Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Earll Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • East Alvarado Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • East Evergreen Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Encanto-Palmcroft Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Encanto Vista Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Encanto Manor Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Fairview Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • F.Q. Story Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Garfield Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Idylwilde Park Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • La Hacienda Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Los Olivos Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Luxury Properties in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Margarita Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Medlock Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • North Central Corridor in Phoenix, Arizona
  • North Encanto Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Oakland Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Phoenix Homesteads Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Pierson Place Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Roosevelt Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Villa Verde Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Willo Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Windsor Square Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Woodland Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Woodlea Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Yaple Park Historic District in Phoenix, Arizona
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