Coulter House
Also known as: Coulter Residence
Why it's listed
Built in 1915-1916 for Lucy Coulter, a widow and investor, this two-story house at 3162 Second Avenue in San Diego's Bankers Hill neighborhood was designed by architect Carleton Monroe Winslow Sr. and built by the Los Angeles firm Winter and Nicholson. It has stuccoed walls, a hipped roof of slate shingles with Mission tile trim, Doric pilasters and columns around arched openings, and a monumental arched front entrance. Inside are a Japanese room, a stepped-down living room with beam ceiling, and an original elevator. Winslow also designed buildings for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, and the house reflects the Spanish Colonial style associated with that event. The nomination calls it one of the finest remaining examples of his residential work in the city. The Coulter family, and later the Peery family, were prominent in local cultural and social circles. The house remains in excellent condition, though its large formal garden to the west was removed for later development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as one of the finest remaining examples of Winslow's residential work in San Diego. Its style is closely tied to the Panama-California Exposition of 1915-1916, for which Winslow designed buildings. It is also associated with the Coulter and Peery families, who were prominent in San Diego cultural and social life.
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 83001227, listed September 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3162 2nd Ave., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | September 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001227 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1916 |
| Architect / builder | Carleton Monroe Winslow Sr., architect; Winter and Nicholson of Los Angeles, builders |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival (Spanish Colonial-Mission Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, largely unchanged from original construction apart from removal of the west garden; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.73838, -117.16246 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 83001227.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q16543933
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.