The following article from your UrbanConnection team focuses on Medlock Place Historic District. We will be discussing the history of the neighborhood and where things are today. We’ve also included a YouTube virtual tour of Medlock Place so you can get a sense of the area. At the end of the article is a button you can click to see homes for sale in Medlock Place. If you have questions, please know we are here to help.
The History of Medlock Place Historic District:
Medlock Place Historic District is one of only two historic neighborhoods in north central Phoenix Arizona, the other being Windsor Square Historic District.
Located on the north-west side of Central and Camelback, it was once described as rural living at its finest. Today it is hard to believe homes north of Camelback between Central and 7th Ave could be considered rural.
Medlock Place Historic District is the collective name of a number of subdivisions dating back to the 1920’s. The principle neighborhoods are:
- Orangewood Estates
- Medlock Place
- Medlock South
- Aldrich Place
- Evans Add to Orangewood
- A few other small subdivisions; Tyson Place, The Palms, 21 Pasadena and Brentwood Park add to the mix known as Medlock Place Historic District.
Below is an excerpt from the application Medlock Place made to the National Register of Historic Places we found both entertaining and educational:
In the 1920s, Phoenix saw unprecedented agricultural and commercial production, which contributed to another population boom. The spiraling population increase also affected the physical dimensions of the city, as residential development rapidly extended the rural-urban interface in all directions from the city center. Meeting the demand for suburban residential land, developers further subdivided the twenty acre lots of the Evans’ Addition, platting Medlock Place (1926), South Medlock Place (1927), Orangewood Estates (1928), South Orangewood (1937), and Aldrich Place (1939).
Floyd W. Medlock, a cotton broker living at 145 North 2nd Avenue, subdivided his portions of Evans’ Addition to Orangewood forming Medlock Place and South Medlock Place-in 1926 and 1927, respectively. While developing the lots for sale, he continued working as a cotton broker. Medlock advertised his subdivisions as providing such country living “delights” such as low taxes and “lots of elbow room,” while also advertising modern conveniences like fully electric kitchen appliances, electric light switches, and DuroPressure Water Systems. A member of the Central Avenue Beautification Committee, Medlock planted seven-year old palms and shade trees along all of the gravel streets in the subdivision. In the time between Medlock Place’s opening in October 1926 and February 1927, Medlock had constructed several model homes for public viewing and had already sold nine finished homes.
As is the case for many neighborhoods that popped up in the late 1920’s, Medlock has two significant building periods… pre and post depression. The obvious distinction is architectural styles. Before the Great Depression you’ll find more period revival homes like those in the Medlock and S. Medlock subdivisions. As we move into the late 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s you will find a trend towards the myriad of ranch style homes.
The result of the different build eras described above is Medlock Historic District has a variety of architectural styles including:
- Bungalow
- Spanish Colonial Revival
- English Tudor Revival
- Pueblo Revival
- Transitional Ranch
- French Provincial w/ Spanish influence
Medlock Place Historic District Today
Medlock Place today is quite different from its “out-of-town”, rural roots of the past. Today it sits in the heart of the Camelback/Central Avenue corridor. It is considered a pedestrian neighborhood with a walk score in the mid 60’s and has become a foodies paradise with lots of local restaurants including:
- Federal Pizza
- Postinos
- St. Francis
- JoyRide
- Windsor
- Churn
- Mary Coyle Ice Cream and more
When driving through Medlock Historic District you’ll likely note the mature vegetation. The once small palms that line the streets are quite tall and stout. Many of the homes are situated on generous lots and set far back from the street, often with grassy yards.
Residents tell us Medlock Historic District is a great place to call home. It has a neighborhood feel with lots of local shopping, restaurants and activities. It is close to the Central/Camelback light rail station, downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor, and The Biltmore making it a centrally located place to enjoy much of what Phoenix has to offer. Add the much praised Madison District schools and there is much to say about life in Medlock Place Historic.
Homes for Sale in Medlock Place Historic District:
Click on the button to open our search portal with a list of homes for sale in Medlock Place. You can modify the search to find other fine homes in the area too.
[spatialmatch_popup id=15 appearance=button width=100% height=600]Homes For Sale In Medlock Historic District[/spatialmatch_popup]
The Urban Team
7600 N 16th St #100
Phoenix, AZ 85020
602-234-5777