Court
Why it's listed
Three one-story stuccoed buildings holding eight units make up this bungalow court at 497-503-1/2 North Madison Avenue in Pasadena. It was built in 1928 to a design by A. Ritter and follows the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Ornamental window grilles, asymmetrically placed windows, arched openings and several tiled-roof designs give the court individuality and a rural Spanish atmosphere. A narrow courtyard holds only a walkway flanked by shrubbery. No two units are alike, yet they are related to one another in the manner of a country village. The court reflects the way 1920s bungalow courts followed the popular architectural revival styles. It also forms part of a quiet, tree-lined residential street that has been described as an encyclopedia of Pasadena housing forms, running from Victorian times through the mid-twentieth century. It was listed as one of several bungalow courts in the city, a group that includes earlier Craftsman and Mission-style examples.
Significance in brief: The court is an example of the 1920s bungalow courts that reflected the popularity of architectural revival styles. No two units are alike, yet they relate to each other like a country village. It is also an integral part of a quiet, tree-lined residential street described as an encyclopedia of Pasadena housing forms from Victorian times through the mid-twentieth century.
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 83001189, listed July 11, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 732-744 Santa Barbara St., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | July 11, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001189 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | A. Ritter |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 34.15529, -118.13505 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 83001189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681786
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.