Calvert Manor
Also known as: DHR File No. 00-2265
Why it's listed
Calvert Manor is a three-story walk-up garden apartment building on North Calvert Street in northeastern Arlington County, Virginia, near Lee Highway. Architect Mihran Mesrobian designed it and it was built in 1948 with concrete block bearing walls, red brick facing, cast stone, cement brick details and glass block. Moderne elements include corner casement windows, vertical glass-block bands over the stair halls, and contrasting light and dark masonry. It held twenty-two original apartments, including a janitor's unit. Arlington's population more than doubled during the 1940s, creating a severe housing shortage, and the project was financed with a Federal Housing Administration guaranteed loan. The property was recognized as a locally significant work of Mesrobian, who was best known for 1920s hotels and apartment buildings in Washington, D.C. Among his later Northern Virginia projects, it remains one of the last intact examples and stylistically one of the most interesting. A parking lot, laundry, drying yard and playroom reflected concern for working-class residents.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Calvert Manor is a locally significant work of Mihran Mesrobian, a prominent Washington architect, and a fine example of his later moderne-style work in Northern Virginia. It stands out among the many lower-rent apartment projects built in Arlington after World War II and is one of the last intact examples of Mesrobian's suburban apartment buildings. Its low-cost materials and amenities reflect concern for working-class residents.
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 97001506, listed December 15, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1925-1927 N. Calvert St., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | December 15, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001506 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Mesrobian, Mihran |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as multiple dwelling apartments; the lot is described as well maintained, with original plans and landscaping still in place. An original clothes drying yard was removed in May 1997. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | Lyon Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.89513, -77.09204 (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 97001506.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5024268
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.