Britt, Eugene W., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 at 2141 West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles, this two-story residence was designed by architect Alfred Faist Rosenheim for Eugene W. Britt, a prominent local lawyer. Its red brick walls are trimmed with cream-colored terra cotta, and a two-story portico with fluted columns marks the symmetrical facade. Inside, the living room is finished in Peruvian mahogany, the dining room in Tobasco mahogany, and the attic holds a ballroom. The grounds include a matching garage and a formal garden with a grape arbor and fountains. The house is notable as one of the earliest Colonial Revival homes in Los Angeles built of brick, when most examples in Southern California used wood or stucco. It represented a significant addition to the West Adams district, then the city's most fashionable residential area. Its preservation and limited alteration led the city's Cultural Heritage Board to designate it a local landmark in 1978.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house was one of the earliest Colonial Revival residences in Los Angeles built of brick rather than wood or stucco. It was designed by noted architect A.F. Rosenheim for lawyer Eugene W. Britt in the fashionable West Adams district. It is also valued for its remarkable state of preservation and minimal alteration.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000483, listed May 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2141 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000483 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | A.F. Rosenheim |
| Architectural style | American Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, occupied as a single-family private residence; the exterior has minor alterations (removed roof railing, added carport) and the interior has only modernizations. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.03304, -118.31312 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000483.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5407834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.