Tudor Terrace

The house that currently sits at 570 Prospect Street was built between 1910 and 1911 (New Haven Historical Society. Connecticut Historical Commission Report). Today it is known as Tudor Terrace and includes subsequent dwelling units down the slope in the back of the house. with a parking lot in the center of the layout. Facing east. it covers 85' x 50'on the original site. It is two and a half stories, built in a Tudor Revival style designed by Grosvenor Atterbury. and constructed by Larkin-Carey Co(New Haven Historical Society. Connecticut Historical Commission Report). At the time of construction the house cost just a little over $3.000; today the replacement cost is nearly a million dollars ($986.434) The exterior of the house as we see it today consists of a load bearing brick facade with double end chimneys and gable tile root. The window of the left octagonal entrance consists of art deco pattern and leaded gloss panels(New Haven Historical Society. Connecticut Historical Commission Report). The total finished area of the structure today is 5.873 square feet with 8 bathroom, 8 bedrooms, and a total 20 rooms.



However, the interior is vastly different than the layout that existed previously. Originally a single family home. the servant's quarter was changed into a bathroom for $376.00 in 1941 (New Haven Historical Society Plans and Permit Office). It wasn't until 1959, however, that the building was changed from a one family dwelling to an eight family dwelling with three suites on each of the first floor and second floors and two apartments on the third floor (New Haven Historical Society and Permit Office). When the structure was converted it was owned by the Gorham Realty Co (New Haven Permit Office). The fact that it was converted in the late 1950's is significant because in New Haven this was a time of great transition and re-development. Many blocks of homes were being razed in order to enhance city living as people moved to the suburbs. As these blocks of homes were being redeveloped many displaced people tried to move within the city and existing structures needed to be re-used and changed to accommodate housing needs (New Haven. Reshaping the City 1900-1980). The house was built for a Yale English professor and Athletic Director. George H. Nettleton (New Haven Historical Society. Dana Articles).



Both Nettleton and Grosvenor Atterbury studied at Yale and had a strong affiliation with the University. As an architect, Atterbury was known for his early work building weekend houses for wealthy industrialists. In 1909 he created a system for prefabricated homes which he implemented in his Forest Hills Gardens Housing development (Wikipedia). The house at 570 Prospect was featured in a 1921 article which described the workmanship and material quality of the dwelling along with the manicured garden that added to the quaintness of the structure. The bricks laid for wide raked joints were designed at the request of Nettleton who had traveled Europe and desired walls of bolder texture (New Haven Historical Society, Dana Articles). From this we know the house started as a well to-do living structure, located far from the city center. Designed by a well known architect, using expensive materials, located along the trolley car line, the house, complete with servants quarters, became the home of a very active, involved and worldly Yale professor who in his position as Athletic Director helped with development of the Payne Whitney Gymnasium (YDN). Over time many other structures began popping up along the street changing the dynamics of the neighborhood. Even before the conversion to a multi-family dwelling, Mr. Nettleton starting renting out a portion of his house to another Yale Professor in 1930 based on telephone book listings; then he rented to 3 people in 1959 (New Haven Historical Society, Telephone Directory). Eventually such changes occurred throughout the entire neighborhood which has resulted in the enchantment and excitement we find along Prospect today.