History
Roughly bounded by Van Buren and McDowell, Central and 7th avenues, Phoenix, Arizona
The Roosevelt District is a series of neighborhoods that grew north of the city between 1893 and 1930. These are some of Phoenix’s earliest suburbs, and were choice residential areas of the elite.
In the early twentieth century, the Roosevelt neighborhood was home to many of the politically and socially prominent citizens of Phoenix. They included doctors, governors, mayors, supreme court justices, newspaper publishers, entrepreneurs and community leaders. These men and women shaped Phoenix during its early growth.
The Craftsman Bungalow was the predominant House style.
Broad front porches with massive square porch columns are an essential feature. The Craftsman movement, a popular building philosophy of the early twentieth century, used natural and rustic materials. It stressed comfort, utility and convenience as well as high quality workmanship in design and construction.
Mixed among the Bungalows are houses and apartment buildings in the Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, English Cottage Revival, Southwestern vernacular, and Prairie styles. Additionally, there are examples of Dutch Colonial Revival, Italian Villa Revival, and Neoclassical Revival houses.
Many homes are set in a frame of grass and trees, an important design element both to the Picturesque Movement and the Progressives’ Fresh Air Movement in architecture. The original rows of California fan palms that graced the neighborhood still remain.

In November 1983, the historical significance of the Roosevelt neighborhood was officially recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The state of Arizona has further recognized the neighborhood by establishing Historic Preservation Overlay Zoning in 1986.
Caring owners are returning these wonderful homes back to their previous beauty.
Information Sources
The Roosevelt Neighborhood Multiple Resource Area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Portions of the text were adapted from a copy of the original nomination document.[1] Adaptation copyright © 2007, The Gombach Group.
Historic Preservation Office of the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department
200 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
