Sunset Terrace Historic District
Why it's listed
Sunset Terrace is a small enclave of six cottages and five outbuildings on a winding, sloping street off Macon Avenue, north of downtown Asheville. Rose Mary Byrne, a tuberculosis patient who came to Asheville for its climate, acquired the 2.3-acre tract in 1913 and developed it with residences and rental cottages. Architect Charles N. Parker designed all six cottages, completed between 1913 and 1920, while his brother Harry L. Parker, an engineer, laid out the roads and landscaping. Four cottages are Tudor Revival, with stucco, half-timbering and wood shingles. One is Craftsman and one shows Chalet details. The narrow road, steep topography and mature vegetation give the neighborhood a secluded character. Deed covenants requested by Byrne kept the roads open and required later buildings to conform architecturally to the originals. The district was listed for its architecture, as a cohesive local example of these early twentieth-century styles with few alterations or intrusions.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be an intact, cohesive local example of Tudor Revival, Craftsman and Chalet residential architecture. The six cottages were designed by Asheville architect Charles N. Parker, and his brother Harry L. Parker, an engineer, laid out the streets and landscaping. Deed covenants helped preserve the setting and architectural character.
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 05001411, listed December 16, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9-48 Sunset Terrace, Asheville |
|---|---|
| County | Buncombe County |
| Listed | December 16, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001411 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1913-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Parker, Charles N. - architect; Parker, Harry L. - engineer |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Craftsman, Chalet |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All of the cottages have remained private residences since the 1920s; the district contains 9 contributing and 2 noncontributing buildings. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.61617, -82.54156 (NPS GIS) |
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.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05001411.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18158579
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.