Cambridge Home for the Aged and Infirm
Also known as: Neville Manor; Neville Place
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 on a low hill overlooking Fresh Pond in Cambridge, this 2½-story red brick building served the city as a home for the aged and infirm. Architect Charles R. Greco, a Cambridge native, designed it in a Neo-Georgian style with cast stone trim, a pedimented central entrance pavilion with Doric columns, and a W-shaped plan whose wings face the pond. The land had been taken by the city in 1889 for the water supply, and a 1925 act of the legislature allowed part of it to be used for a city home. The exterior is largely intact, though windows, doors, and some dormers were replaced in later renovations, and most original interior detail was lost in 1974. A rehabilitation completed in 2001 converted the building from a nursing home to assisted living and recreated several public spaces. The approach drive and the orientation toward the pond survive, and the property is also noted for its archaeological sensitivity.
Significance in brief: The building was the City of Cambridge's purpose-built home for elderly and infirm residents, built on land taken for the Fresh Pond water supply and park. It is an example of Georgian Revival institutional design by Cambridge native architect Charles Greco. Its siting and approach toward Fresh Pond remain largely intact despite interior alterations.
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 02001189, listed October 22, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 650 Concord Ave., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 22, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001189 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles R. Greco (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revival: Georgian Revival (Neo-Georgian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Health/Medicine |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 2001 from a nursing home to assisted living, now known as Neville Place. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.38836, -71.14877 (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 02001189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5025444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.