Brick Row
Also known as: Kimball Block
Why it's listed
Brick Row, also called the Kimball Block, is a block-long row of ten two-story dwellings on the west side of "A" Avenue in National City, California. Frank Kimball, the town's founder, built it between September 1887 and March 1888 using drawings sent from Philadelphia. The units are paired to look like five, each L-shaped with the plan reversed on alternate units, which creates U-shaped rear service yards. Walls are load-bearing brick, with more than 240,000 bricks, redwood framing, concrete lintels and a one-story wood porch with carved brackets along the front. Its Philadelphia row house design contrasted sharply with the detached Victorian houses common in California, and it is described as the only structure of its type on the West Coast. Local tradition says Kimball meant it to house railroad officials, though his own letters give no motive. The building remains in good condition and in use as homes and businesses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare Philadelphia-style row house built from East Coast drawings, in contrast to the detached Victorian houses typical of California. It is described as the only structure of its type on the West Coast and as one of the first substantial buildings in National City. It is also tied to Kimball's efforts to bring a railroad to the town.
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 73000431, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | A Ave. between 9th and 10th Sts., National City |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (built September 1887 to March 1888) |
| Architect / builder | Frank Kimball (builder); contract to Mr. Hunt of Griffith & Hunt, San Francisco |
| Architectural style | Victorian row house patterned after 19th Century Philadelphia architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good and slightly altered; occupied, with uses including private residence and commercial. Four of the original sixteen front chimneys remain. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 32.67475, -117.10603 (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 73000431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q5733838
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.