Bushnell
Why it's listed
Completed in 1926 at 240 Bushnell, this seven-story apartment building rises above San Antonio's Monte Vista neighborhood. Its stuccoed walls, tile-capped towers, round-arched windows and arcaded entrance reflect Spanish Colonial Revival design. Inside, each floor holds four apartments served by separate east and west elevators, which preserves privacy, and the basement contains servants' quarters. Many two-bedroom units retain Renaissance-inspired plaster mantels. The Kelwood Company, a joint venture of architect Robert Kelly and H.C. Wood, built it to attract affluent residents away from single-family houses, and period advertising promoted apartment living as free of household worry. In 1920s Texas such large apartment buildings were rare, and it is one of two surviving large pre-Depression examples in San Antonio. It has changed little over more than five decades, apart from replaced windows, and remains the only high-rise in its area, facing the Landa Library at a prominent intersection.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an unusual large-scale multi-family dwelling for 1920s Texas, when single-family homes were the norm and apartments were typically one to three stories. It is one of two surviving large pre-Depression apartment buildings in San Antonio. It has remained virtually unaltered and is a prominent local landmark.
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 82004491, listed August 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 240 Bushnell, San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | August 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004491 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1926) |
| Architect / builder | The Kelwood Company/Robert Kelly |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good repair and virtually unaltered, occupied, with rehabilitation work underway on kitchens, bathrooms and air conditioning. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | Monte Vista Residential Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.46210, -98.48754 (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 82004491.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318524
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.