Cedar Avenue Complex
The National Park Service has not published a boundary polygon for this district; the map shows the listed properties inside it and the district's reference point.
Why it's listed
Cedar Avenue Complex in Lancaster, California, is a group of county government buildings at Cedar Avenue and Lancaster Boulevard. It includes a concrete jail built in 1920, a brick health center from 1930, and three buildings completed in 1938: Memorial Hall and Office Building, a Sheriff's Substation, and a Sheriff's Garage. Los Angeles County began using the site in 1919, and Public Works Administration funding paid for the 1938 construction after a fire destroyed the earlier library and courthouse in 1937. County architect Edward C. M. Brett designed them in a Moderne style. The complex served as the Antelope Valley's center for county business, housing the sheriff, health services, a branch library, courts and offices until a new administrative center opened in 1962. Memorial Hall also hosted dances, club meetings and relief drives. The Garage has been altered enough that it no longer contributes. The city bought the complex from the county in 1987.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1920-1943 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Moderne |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | Cedar Avenue Complex (property record) |
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.