Status: Preserved
Location: Roughly bounded by Union, Central and York Avenues, and Cleveland and Rembert Streets, in Memphis
Built: 1900-1930
Architectural Style: Various: Four Square, Bungalow, Queen Anne, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival
Original Function/Purpose: Residential
Date Listed on the National Register: September 9, 1982
National Register Reference Number Link: 82004040
History: In the early twentieth century some of the city’s most prominent architects came together to create Memphis’s longest enduring neighborhood. The concept was developed to have sprawling greenways, luxurious boulevards, and shared spaces. The heaviest amount of construction and work was done between 1900 and 1930. Central Gardens is comprised of over 40 subdivisions, 83 blocks, 1540 structures and 511 acres. Central Gardens Historic District is one of the National Register-listed districts recognized (and protected) by the City of Memphis as a local historic district or Historic Overlay District.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION AND BOUNDARY INCREASE (both approved Nov. 17, 2023): Since the original nomination was submitted in 1982, many “properties have since been demolished, altered, restored, or aged into significance, and additional properties have been constructed within the boundaries.” Individual property descriptions then were also inadequate, and there are discrepancies in the original resource count. The new nomination expands architectural descriptions and historical narrative, updates the status of each resource, and revises the period of significance to 1852-1972. Also, a few properties were not included that should have been, within the district’s boundaries defined in the original nomination. The documentation has now been adjusted to include them, namely five additional properties to the north of the district on S. Barksdale Street and four additional properties to the south of the district on Melrose Street and S. Willett Street. The properties are within the neighborhood boundaries as currently identified by the Central Gardens Association and, with the exception of two, are all currently located within the boundaries of the Central Gardens Historic Overlay District.
Maps:
Outline of the Central Gardens Historic District.
Map of the district used in its National Register nomination.
City Council Districts: 5 and 6 (Divided between districts, about two-thirds in 5.)
Super District: 9
County Commission District: 10