A Piece of Phoenix History
Dr. James C. Norton came to Arizona in 1892 to serve as the territory's first veterinarian. In 1912, he purchased acreage north of the young city of Phoenix, built this Mission Revival home for his family, and ran a dairy on the surrounding land. When the dairy was later sold, much of that land became what is now Encanto Park and its golf course, and the Norton House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the park.
The City of Phoenix has used the Norton House as office space for its Parks and Recreation Department since the mid-20th century, and the city continues to invest in it today, most recently approving grant funds to restore its original wood windows. It still stands as one of the city's most recognizable pieces of early 20th century architecture.
Why It Matters
Phoenix has one of the most active historic preservation programs in the Southwest, and buying a home in one of its historic districts means something different than buying a typical resale. These neighborhoods sit under Historic Preservation (HP) overlay zoning, which protects the character of the streetscape and requires certain exterior changes to go through a design review process. For homeowners, that means the bungalow-lined street you fell in love with is protected from being torn down for something out of place, and your home's historic character is preserved for the long run.
It also comes with real, practical incentives. The City of Phoenix offers a historic property tax reclassification program that can lower property taxes on qualifying historic homes, along with design assistance for owners planning a renovation. If you love old-Phoenix charm, mature trees, walkable blocks, and architecture you simply can't build new anymore, a historic district might be exactly the right fit.
By the Numbers
The City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office oversees a growing collection of protected neighborhoods and landmarks.
Phoenix Historic Neighborhoods Coalition (PHNC) is a volunteer, grassroots coalition of Phoenix's historic neighborhoods that advocates for preservation and puts together a self-guided driving tour map of the districts, a great way to spend an afternoon exploring.
I serve as Secretary of the Phoenix Historic Neighborhoods Coalition. I don't just sell these incredible pieces of Phoenix history, I'm actively involved in protecting them.
View the PHNC Driving Tour Map