House at 704 Parker
Why it's listed
Built around 1895 in a residential area of mostly late nineteenth-century houses about five blocks southwest of McKinney's central business district, this one-story frame house follows the L-plan form. It has weatherboard siding, a gable roof with box eaves, and wood-sash double-hung windows. A two-bay porch with a shed roof, turned wood posts, squared balusters and jigsawn brackets marks the east side. Hipped bay windows with paneled facing project from the east wing, and a bay window with angled corners and jigsawn brackets appears on the north side. During the 1880s and 1890s the L-plan was the most popular house type built in McKinney. Many such houses still stand, but reviewers judged this one among the best and most intact examples. Its front projecting wing and the turned posts with simple brackets were singled out as noteworthy. It was listed for its architectural value in 1987 as part of a citywide group of McKinney resources, and it remains in residential use in good condition.
Significance in brief: The L-plan was the most popular house type built in McKinney in the 1880s and 1890s. Many examples survive, but this house is among the best and most intact. Its front projecting wing with a window bay and its turned wood posts with simple jigsawn brackets are noted as especially noteworthy.
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 87001721, listed October 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 704 Parker, McKinney |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | October 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001721 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | L-plan dwelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good, and the present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.19266, -96.62237 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 87001721.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000760
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.