Broad Street -
Davie Avenue Historic District
The East Broad Street-Davie Avenue Historic District is a
residential district composed primarily of late nineteenth and early
twentieth century dwellings located just east of the commercial center
of Statesville. The linear district runs eastward from the 200
block of East Broad Street to Salisbury Road, then follows Elm Street
northward to Davie Avenue, and continues eastward out Davie Avenue to
Euclid Avenue. The two main streets, East Broad Street and Davie
Avenue are wide, tree-shaded streets, and on East Broad, a median strip
planted with small trees adds to the lush setting of the
district. Houses along these two streets are situated on spacious
lots with facade lines generally running from 40-60 feet back from the
street, although two of the oldest houses in the district--the J. S.
Ramsey and Mott-Simons houses at 609 and 619 Davie Avenue--are set back
a full 100 feet from the street. The houses along Elm Street, for the
most part illustrating a later stage in the development of the
district, tend to be closer to each other and closer to the street than
those on East Broad and Davie. While the houses along the north
side of East Broad and the west side of Elm are elevated several feet
above street level, most of the other houses in the district are on an
even level with the street.
The East Broad Street-Davie Avenue Historic District contains seventy-six buildings, all of which were originally residential in use. Most were intended for single family occupancy, though several, including the fine, late 1920's Elma Apartments building, were built for multi-family occupancy. By far the majority of buildings in the district retain their residential usage, though a few, especially along East Broad are now being adaptively used for small businesses and professional offices.
The buildings in the district are generally well preserved and are in good or excellent condition. Nearly all are occupied. Most of the houses along Davie Avenue, the most elegant street in the district, have two stories, while those on the other streets vary from one to one and a half to two stories. The buildings are primarily of frame construction and exterior finish. Most of the houses exhibit simple vernacular expressions of various late nineteenth and early twentieth century styles, though several, including the Mott-Simons, J. S. Ramsey and Major W. L. Allison (318 Davie Ave.) houses are fairly sophisticated in design and are among the most ambitious nineteenth century houses remaining in Statesville. Of the 76 properties in the district, 61 contribute to the architectural qualities of the district. Of these, eight buildings are pivotal to the character of the district. Of the approximately nineteen per cent of the buildings which do not make a positive contribution to the special qualities of the district, only four buildings are actual "intrusions" in the district. Of these four, two are brick veneer apartment complexes built ca. 1970 on Davie Ave., and two are houses, which because of their design, size, use of materials and/or placement, are totally incompatible with the overall character of the district.
The houses in the East Broad Street-Davie Avenue Historic District range in building date from ca. 1880-ca.to ca. 1970, and within this span of time numerous architectural styles--especially those of the late Victorian and early twentieth century periods--are represented. Of the 76 buildings in the district, only four per cent are believed to have been built prior to 1885. However, twenty-five per cent were built between ca. 1886 and ca. 1905.
The East Broad Street-Davie Avenue Historic District contains seventy-six buildings, all of which were originally residential in use. Most were intended for single family occupancy, though several, including the fine, late 1920's Elma Apartments building, were built for multi-family occupancy. By far the majority of buildings in the district retain their residential usage, though a few, especially along East Broad are now being adaptively used for small businesses and professional offices.
The buildings in the district are generally well preserved and are in good or excellent condition. Nearly all are occupied. Most of the houses along Davie Avenue, the most elegant street in the district, have two stories, while those on the other streets vary from one to one and a half to two stories. The buildings are primarily of frame construction and exterior finish. Most of the houses exhibit simple vernacular expressions of various late nineteenth and early twentieth century styles, though several, including the Mott-Simons, J. S. Ramsey and Major W. L. Allison (318 Davie Ave.) houses are fairly sophisticated in design and are among the most ambitious nineteenth century houses remaining in Statesville. Of the 76 properties in the district, 61 contribute to the architectural qualities of the district. Of these, eight buildings are pivotal to the character of the district. Of the approximately nineteen per cent of the buildings which do not make a positive contribution to the special qualities of the district, only four buildings are actual "intrusions" in the district. Of these four, two are brick veneer apartment complexes built ca. 1970 on Davie Ave., and two are houses, which because of their design, size, use of materials and/or placement, are totally incompatible with the overall character of the district.
The houses in the East Broad Street-Davie Avenue Historic District range in building date from ca. 1880-ca.to ca. 1970, and within this span of time numerous architectural styles--especially those of the late Victorian and early twentieth century periods--are represented. Of the 76 buildings in the district, only four per cent are believed to have been built prior to 1885. However, twenty-five per cent were built between ca. 1886 and ca. 1905.