Powelton, The
Also known as: Powelton Apartments
Why it's listed
Built on a Philadelphia city block bounded by Powelton Avenue, Thirty-sixth Street, Lancaster Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street, the Powelton began in 1902 when developer Frederick J. Poth bought the lot from street car manufacturer George Martin Brill. Poth first planned a nine-story apartment building, but the design was changed to seventeen single-family houses arranged around a shared rear court. Architect Willis G. Hale designed the houses, which used Pompeiian brick with wood and granite trim. Hale's project was never finished. In 1908 Solomon Greenburg acquired the unfinished houses, and the Philadelphia firm Milligan and Webber converted them into housekeeping flats by adding stair towers and removing most individual entrances. The complex is valued for its exuberant detailing, for its link to Poth's brewing and real estate career, and for its role as the focal point of Powelton Village.
Significance in brief: The complex is important as an example of the work of two Philadelphia architectural firms, Willis G. Hale and Milligan and Webber. It is also linked to Frederick J. Poth, a brewer and major architectural patron, and is described as the keystone of the Powelton Village neighborhood, which developed as a suburban-style residential area with a distinctive social 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 78002452, listed December 13, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3500--3520 Powelton Ave., 214--218 35th St., and 215--221 36th St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 13, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002452 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-1910 |
| Architect / builder | Willis G. Hale (architect, original design); Milligan and Webber (architects of the conversion to housekeeping flats) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 39.95989, -75.18988 (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 78002452.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7757905
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.