ACS recently received notification that the Jefferson Park Historic District, comprised of 788 properties in central Tucson, was successfully listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance under Criterion A for its association with Community Planning and Development in Tucson. Jefferson Park was originally developed as a rural neighborhood on the outskirts north of Tucson. A broad variety of architectural styles from the first half of the 20th century are represented in the neighborhood, including Bungalow, Spanish Colonial Revival, Pueblo Revival, Southwest, and various types of the National Folk and post-World War II Ranch styles. The Jefferson Park Historic District is unique as a rare surviving example of an unplanned rural neighborhood that was slowly built out, one lot at a time, over a period of 60 years, and incorporated into the fabric of the city. While twentieth century residential development is generally characterized by adherence to modern subdivision design standards, the eclectic and accretional character of the Jefferson Park Historic District is illustrative of the last, large, unplanned historic community in Tucson with a very different evolution—as a more libertarian community shaped more by individual initiative, without zoning restrictions. ACS would like to congratulate the residents of the neighborhood and the City of Tucson. It was our privilege to prepare the nomination and usher it through the process. For more information, please visit the neighborhood’s website at http://www.jeffersonpark.info and the City of Tucson’s Historic Preservation Office website at http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/preservation.
