Van Buren Place Historic District

Van Buren Place Historic District is a short residential street segment in the Adams-Normandie neighborhood of south central Los Angeles, about four miles southwest of the Civic Center. It holds 14 principal houses and four auxiliary buildings, and 14 of the 18 resources contribute to its character. Most of the houses date from 1903 to 1910 and show Craftsman design with Shingle Style massing and touches of Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival and Gothic Revival detail. The Percy H. Clark Company developed much of the block, including Clark's own home at 2639 Van Buren Place, yet the designs differ noticeably from house to house. None was designed by an architect. The street matters because comparable streetscapes nearby have been lost to demolition, inappropriate alterations and intrusive construction. Residents have renovated many homes, formed a neighborhood organization, and won traffic barricades and down-zoning for the street. Most houses remain single-family residences, a few serve as congregate homes, and several have detached rear apartment units.