The History of East Evergreen Historic District, Phoenix, Arizona

Information excerpted from the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, June 19, 2009.http://phoenix.gov/HISTORIC/eastevergreen.pdf Courtesy of:
Historic Preservation Office of the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department
200 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
602-261-8699

The East Evergreen Historic District was largely developed as a Streetcar Subdivision (1887-1925). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, land owners beyond the city limits enticed streetcar companies to build lines to their new additions in an effort to promote sales. Developers typically subdivided their land in a grid pattern of perpendicular streets and rectangular blocks that yielded the maximum number of deep, narrow lots within walking distance of the nearest streetcar stop. 
Development in East Evergreen can be directly attributed to the extension of the streetcar line north of the city along Third Street to the Phoenix Indian School in 1909;

that same year, the East Evergreen Addition to the city of Phoenix was platted so that no house lay more than a few blocks from the streetcar stop at Third Street and McDowell Road. Ready access to reliable transportation inspired growth in the district and within a few years, numerous houses – most of them exhibiting Craftsman stylistic qualities – appeared on the district’s main streets of Willetta, Lynwood, and 5th Street. In addition to East Evergreen, the Garfield, North Garfield, Coronado, and Kenilworth districts are examples of late 19th and early 20th century streetcar subdivisions.

The East Evergreen Historic District streetscape is characterized by large front yard setbacks, mature palm tree-lined streets and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. Despite minor variations in the size of lots and setbacks, the district retains this common character. There are two basic lot sizes in East Evergreen. Lots along Willetta Street are approximately 70’ wide by 225’ deep, which was the historic neighborhood standard. Between 1915 and 1918, Lynwood Street was cut through a section of a preexisting larger block. Lots along Lynwood are approximately 65’ wide x 50’ deep, dramatically smaller than those along Willetta Street. Because most of the reduction came from the rear yard, the Lynwood Street lots appear similar in size and setback from the street.

The largest lot in the district is found at 1422 N. 5th Street. Originally, the large, deep lot held one of the oldest and most substantial single family houses in the neighborhood. It appeared on both the 1915 and 1949 Sanborn maps and was replaced with the present apartment complex about 1965.
Most residences in the district are one or one-and-a-half stories. Nearly all the residences have front porches, most of which span the width of the façade.

Landscaping and street furniture further contribute to the character of the district. Mature palm trees line the streets. These are regularly spaced approximately 35’ apart, in the area between the sidewalk and Willetta Street and around Townsend Park. Some mature palm trees are present on 5th Street and Lynwood Street, but not with the same regularity. Many lots have broad front lawns. Lampposts are located both at street corners, on residential blocks between the street and sidewalk, and throughout the park. The lampposts are replicas of historic lampposts.

The earliest residences in the district were constructed along Willetta Street, and by 1915, seven of the twelve lots contained within the district on this street were developed; the residences on these lots are extant. With the exception of the house at the northeast lot at Willetta and 5th Streets, all other lots on Willetta were developed with single-family residences by 1929. Perhaps Willetta’s success inspired the developers to open Lynwood Street between 1915 and 1918; all of the extant residences along Lynwood were constructed by 1929. Willetta and Lynwood streets are the most uniform in house size, age, type, materials, rhythm and style. Fifth Street features a mix of older and newer resources and different types of housing; it has two 1949 duplexes, a 1945 Early Ranch style house, and a large, c. 1965 apartment complex.

Victorian, Craftsman and Ranch styles are all present within the East Evergreen Historic District although Craftsman influences dominate the streetscapes. All have medium-pitched gable roofs, in front-gabled, side-gabled, and cross-gabled configurations. Nearly half of these residences feature dormers with either a pitched or shed roof. Most have the exposed rafters typical of the Craftsman style.

Another notable resource in the East Evergreen Historic District is Townsend Park, a neighborhood park located at the northeast corner of Lynwood and 5th Streets. It is approximately 1.5 acres in size and has a lighted basketball court, volleyball court, playground and picnic area.