Willo Historic District

Generally bounded by First and Seventh Avenues, McDowell Road and the alley north of Edgemont Avenue.

Period of Significance: 1910-1950

The Willo Historic District is a one-half square mile tract in Central Phoenix encompassing several historic residential subdivisions. The district is bounded by four arterial roadways; Thomas Road on the north, McDowell Road on the south, 7th Avenue on the west, and Central Avenue on the east. Historic and contemporary development trends have always focused on Central Avenue, the major north-south roadway through Phoenix. It is a major defining component of the historic district.

Contemporary commercial development, predominantly high-rise office buildings, line Central Avenue, with related development extending behind the buildings to depths ranging from 300 to 800 feet. West of that high-rise corridor lies the Willo Historic District, distinguished by historic residential subdivisions composed of long, narrow blocks extending east-west between the major roadways of 3rd Avenue, 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue. The residential subdivisions are characterized by low, one-story scale, mostly moderate size historic houses, and mature landscaping and tree and palm lined streets. The historic district presents a continuum of historic residential development in Phoenix from 1910 to 1942. The subdivision designs are integral with one another, giving the image of a unified historic neighborhood.

The buildings within the Willo Historic District retain a high degree of architectural integrity, particularly in terms of design, setting, materials and workmanship. The styles of the houses are almost equally divided between the late nineteenth and twentieth century Revivals, and the Modern Movement’s Minimal Traditional variations, including the Ranch Styles, California Styles (Monterey) and European Provincial.

The streetscapes in the district help convey the historic character of the subdivisions and retain integrity of landscaping, roadway widths, street lighting, and the continuity of historic houses. Two dominant architectural property types are located within the district. Both have relevance and importance in illustrating one or more of the historic contexts related to the Willo Historic District. The classification of these property types is based on function and association with the residential development pattern in Phoenix during the first 40 years of the twentieth century. The dominant themes related to that period include trends and patterns in subdivision development, the influence of public planning and housing policy on residential construction, and the evolution of architectural styles in Phoenix from 1910 through 1941. While both property types share a common function, they can be readily distinguished in terms of style, materials, and workmanship.

See source for more details.

Source: https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/261eb128-93e0-4d1f-a1bf-bf0be3e0d038