Gartz Court
Also known as: Gloria Court
Why it's listed
Gartz Court is a bungalow court of six units in five one-story, gable-roofed buildings, built in 1910 at 270 North Madison Avenue in Pasadena and attributed to architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey. It combines Arroyo stone chimneys and foundations, a wooden shingle skirt and Tudor half-timbering. Walkways near the buildings form a central oval lawn with a rose garden. Interiors are detailed with wood and brick fireplaces. Commissioned by Kate Crane Gartz, a plumbing-fortune heir, liberal activist and founding member of several Pasadena civic organizations, the court is regarded as the oldest in the city. Together with Bowen Court it marks the beginning of the bungalow court form. Its English Arts and Crafts influence gives it a refinement that contrasts with the rougher character of Bowen Court. Because the site was threatened with demolition, relocation to a new setting was approved in 1983, with the buildings and landscaping to be arranged in their original layout and rehabilitated.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest bungalow court in Pasadena and, with Bowen Court, the earliest surviving evidence of the bungalow court's origins. Its English Arts and Crafts design is rare for the court form. It is also associated with Kate Crane Gartz, a liberal activist and civic founder who commissioned it.
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 83001195, listed August 25, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 270 N. Madison, Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 25, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001195 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey |
| Architectural style | English Cottage-Craftsman / English Arts and Crafts, with Tudor half-timbering |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Threatened with demolition at its original site; relocation to a new site was approved in 1983 so that the buildings and landscaping could be rearranged in their original configuration and rehabilitated. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.15076, -118.13792 (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 83001195.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682000
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.