Grandview, The
Why it's listed
Near the top of Prospect Hill in Somerville, 82 Munroe Street holds the Grandview, a 3 1/2-story clapboard apartment building put up around 1896 to a design by Mark Leighton. It was built on speculation for Somerville alderman Elbridge G. Park and commands one of the most extensive views in the city. The main facade has a two-story entry porch with a broad entablature on Doric pillars, and a central gable with modillions and dentils that suggests a temple front. Three broad porches run across the rear. Some windows on the front were replaced with sliding glass units, but the form and ornament are otherwise intact. The building is notable as an example of the apartment-hotel, a type that grew in Somerville around the turn of the century; the 1900 City Directory listed 45 of them, most near public transportation. It is still used as apartments and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a handsome example of the turn-of-the-century apartment/hotel building type, which served upper middle class commuters near public transportation. It is also a well-detailed Colonial Revival building that retains integrity of location, design, materials, feeling and association. It is argued to meet Criteria A and C at the local level.
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 89001275, listed September 18, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 82 Munroe St., Somerville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 18, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001275 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Mark Leighton |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in good condition, in use as apartments (six units), with some 20th-century window alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38243, -71.09451 (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 89001275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7737519
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.