Toltec, The
Also known as: The Toltec Apartments
Why it's listed
Located at 131 Taylor Street in San Antonio, the Toltec Apartments is a three-story, U-plan building of red brick with white cast stone detailing. Construction began in 1913 and finished in 1915. Architect Ernest P. Behles designed it for Augustus Maverick and his wife Elizabeth as an investment property, and the Maverick family lived there beginning in 1919. Maverick was murdered in 1913, which delayed completion. The building holds fourteen apartments laid out for natural cross-ventilation, with terrazzo corridors, oak doors and a marble-faced recessed entrance beneath a suspended canopy. It sits beside the Maverick-Carter House, and the two are the only residential buildings left on a street now given over to commercial uses. The nomination presents the Toltec as a fine example of the early 20th century trend toward apartment living and the finest surviving example of its kind in the downtown business district. It retains a high degree of integrity and continues as rental housing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of early 20th century apartment construction and the work of architect Ernest P. Behles. It is described as the finest remaining example of its type in San Antonio's central business district. It retains a high degree of integrity and still serves its original function as rental apartments.
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 10000498, listed July 26, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 131 Taylor St, San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | July 26, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000498 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Ernest P. Behles, architect; Gordon-Jones Construction Company, general contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a rental apartment building, its original function; last remodeled in 1996. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.43242, -98.48807 (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 10000498.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.