Mary Louise Court
Why it's listed
Mary Louise Court is a 1928 bungalow court at 583-599 North Mentor Avenue in Pasadena. Seven wood-frame, stucco-clad buildings are arranged in a U shape on a lot 117 feet wide and 191 feet deep. A rear structure holds four units, two middle buildings hold three units each, and four front buildings contain single units. Varied building sizes, an irregular stone path and palm trees, including Mexican Fan Palms, give the court the feel of a small village. Arched porches, tiled roofs, stucco walls and stone detailing evoke an affordable Southern California version of Mediterranean living. Robert Harris, the original owner, is listed on the building permits as architect and contractor. The court was listed for its architecture. It is considered one of the best Pasadena examples of the bungalow court form and an outstanding Spanish Colonial Revival example. It remains in excellent condition with few alterations, such as screen doors and window air conditioners.
Significance in brief: The court is argued to be one of the best examples of the bungalow court form in Pasadena, meeting the registration requirements for that property type in design and integrity. It is also an outstanding example of a Spanish Colonial Revival bungalow court, built at the height of that style's popularity. It is relatively unaltered and in excellent condition.
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 94001318, listed November 15, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 583--599 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | November 15, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001318 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Harris, Robert (Architect); also listed on building permits as contractor |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and relatively unaltered; still used as multiple dwellings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.15533, -118.13104 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 94001318.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15249565
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.