Poppy Peak Historic District
Why it's listed
Poppy Peak Historic District is a hillside neighborhood in the far southwest corner of Pasadena, next to Eagle Rock and Highland Park. Covering about 12.29 acres, it takes in portions of Poppy Peak Drive, Kaweah Drive, Cresthaven Drive and Pleasant Way. Developed from the 1920s subdivision of Poppy Peak, the area has narrow, winding streets, no sidewalks, and dense native and imported planting that partly hides many houses. Its houses, mostly built between 1935 and 1968, show a wide range of Modern residential design. Architects include Richard Neutra, Harwell Hamilton Harris, Leland Evison and Lyman Ennis, among others. The district includes Harris's Laing House, an International Style work unlike his mature output, and Neutra's Perkins House, a representative 1950s design. Steep slopes and limited building regulations shaped low, compact houses. Contributing and non-contributing houses sit together comfortably, giving the district a cohesive character recognized for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant under Criterion C in architecture for its dense concentration of Modern residential design by a range of architects, from internationally known masters to local designers. It includes atypical early work by famous architects alongside houses showing their classic styles, such as Harwell Hamilton Harris's Laing House and Richard Neutra's Perkins House. Steep hillside sites and dense landscaping give the neighborhood a distinctive, cohesive character.
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 09000182, listed December 23, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Ave. 64 on the E., La Loma Rd. on the N. including Poppy Peak Dr., Kaweah Dr., Cresthaven Dr., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | December 23, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000182 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1935-1968 |
| Architect / builder | Multiple architects including Lyman Ennis, James Pulliam, Kenneth Hashimoto, Buff, Straub & Hensman, Leland Evison, Harwell Hamilton Harris, Richard Neutra, William Henry Taylor and Robert Cox |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Houses are still in use as single dwellings, as listed under current function. |
| Acreage | 12.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.13196, -118.18148 (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 09000182.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16898725
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.