Mentor Court
Why it's listed
Mentor Court is a 1923 bungalow court on a narrow 60-foot-wide lot at 937 East California Boulevard in Pasadena. Eleven housing units are arranged in a U-shaped layout around a central concrete walkway, with a single bungalow at the far end and two small sheds flanking it. The buildings include two triplexes, two duplexes and the single cottage, all in the English Cottage Revival style, with stucco walls, jerkinhead roofs, eyebrow hoods over the entrances, arched wood doors and wood casement windows. Ivy, shrubs, lawns and mature trees give the grounds a village-like feel. Built by the Delux Building company, the court was listed for its architecture as one of the best Pasadena examples of the enclosed narrow bungalow court. Its combination of single, duplex and triplex buildings is rarely found in such courts. Later wrought iron railings and two replaced windows are the main alterations, and they do not greatly reduce its integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the court is one of the best examples of the bungalow court form in Pasadena, specifically the attached narrow enclosed court type. It also represents the English Cottage Revival style of the 1920s. Its mix of single, duplex and triplex buildings in one court is described as rare.
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 94001323, listed November 15, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 937 E. California Blvd., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | November 15, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001323 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1923 |
| Architect / builder | Delux Building (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: English Cottage Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in multiple-dwelling use. Alterations include later wrought iron railings and two replaced windows in Unit #11, which are not considered to significantly lessen integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.13621, -118.13122 (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 94001323.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.