| State of California - The Resource Agency |
| DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION |
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| *NRHP Status Code: |
1S; 5S1
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| *Resource Name or #: |
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Survey Title: |
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| B1. |
| Historic Name: |
GARTZ COURT
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| B2. |
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| B3. |
| Original Use: |
Multi Family Residence
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| B4. |
Present Use: |
Multi Family Residence
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| *B5a. |
| Primary Architectural Style: |
Craftsman Bungalow
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| B5b. |
| Secondary Architectural Style: |
English Cottage Revival
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| *B6. |
| Construction History: |
Date Built: |
1910
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| *B7. |
| Moved?: |
 Yes
 No
Unknown
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Date: |
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Original Location: |
270 N. Madison Avenue |
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| *B8. |
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| *B9a. |
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| b. |
Builder: |
Matthew Slavin
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| *B10. |
| Significance: |
Theme: |
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Area: |
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| Period of Significance: |
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Property Type: |
Multi-family Residence
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| Applicable Criteria: |
| National Register Criteria: |
A, B, C
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California Register: |
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Local Register: |
Lb, Lc
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As the oldest bungalow court within the city, Gartz Court meets sections A, C, D and G of the Cultural Heritage Landmark criteria. The English Cottage/Craftsman architecture embodied within Gartz Court is rare for the court form and Gartz Court remains as the only example of this adaptation within Pasadena. In addition, the association of this court with Kate Crane Gartz increases its historical significance and continues the theory that the bungalow court evolved from the application of architectural principles to communitarian ideals. Recently relocated, the court retains its historic setting, landscaping and architecture.
The bungalow court, with Pasadena credited as its point of origin, represents an architectural adaptation of high density housing. The spacing between units and interior common areas were designed to create an environment which would foster interaction between the residents. Originally intended to house the winter tourists who flocked to Southern California, the courts consciously imitated resort cottages, which were often clustered in villages. To further the dream of Southern California as a year-round vacation locale, many courts minimized the differences between indoor and outdoor space by including sleeping porches and large entrance verandas. The common area of the court usually exhibited careful landscaping. Whether a formal rose garden to further the English Cottage atmosphere of Gartz Court or the more common combination of exotic and traditional plant groupings, landscaping focused the bungalows away from street activity. The courts were often located in single family residential neighborhoods and their detailing and massing often hide the higher density. In addition to street façade, the individual units, whether attached or separate, duplicated the amenities of single family housing.
Constructed in 1910, Gartz Court remains as the oldest bungalow court in Pasadena. St. Francis Court, constructed in 1909, is considered the first built example of the bungalow court form; it was demolished in the 1950’s. As part of the first wave of bungalow courts, the architecture and site planning of Gartz Court reflect more artistic care than the later courts which were more speculative in nature. The early courts were so successful that pattern books began marketing court plans in various shapes and styles. Like its contemporary Bowen Court (1910-1911), Gartz Court carefully tuned the Craftsman ideal to the court form. Due to its original downtown location and as garages were not provided for residents until the 1940’s, it seems that likely that Gartz Court was specifically designed for the tourist clientele. Bower Court and others located further from the business core included garages when originally developed.
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| B11. |
| Additional Resource Attributes: |
HP03
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| *B12. |
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| B13. |
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| *B14. |
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