STREETSCAPES AND CHARACTER
The overall appearance and character of the East Row Historic District was shaped in large part by the typography of the Newport area. The city is located on a rolling plain adjacent to the Ohio River and steep hills rise less than a mile from the river. During the late 19th century expansion was also limited on the east by the low lying areas along Covert Run. This small area available for development to the east and south of the existing city dictated deep narrow residential lots. These lots were relatively expensive and most property owners maximized their investment by building two story homes with large attic areas. The use of masonry construction was also common and skilled craftsmen were available to employ a wide variety of designs and detailing on the main facade. Side facades were generally much simpler and rear facades were almost always void of decoration.
Because of the limited space available for construction on each lot the size of yards on all facades are limited. On the main, or street, facade there are often setbacks of only ten to twenty feet with the width of yards also narrow and generally of twenty to thirty feet. Setbacks are generally uniform along most blocks with deeper setbacks found for some residences built after 1910 on Maple and Linden Avenues. Yards on side facades are generally non-existent or very narrow due to the width of lots. Yards at the rear facades are often the largest on the lot but are still not extensive.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries residents often had cast iron fences erected to help define the limited lot sizes. During that period, the Newport and Covington areas boasted major fence manufacturers, such as the Stewart Fence Company. The availability and affordability of these fences led to their profusion on many blocks throughout the area. Most of these were erected in variations of hoop and dart design common of the period. These fences have proven to be most durable and are important defining features of the East Row area.
Blocks throughout the East Row Historic District were designed with central alleys which bisected each block. The alleys provided access to rear lots and buildings, such as stables and servants quarters in the 1880s and 1890s, and later for automobiles after 1905. The majority of frame or brick outbuildings from the late 19th century were razed and replaced with brick or hollow core concrete block garages in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of these garages still exist and remain in service. Alleys were often paved with bricks and many of these early surface materials remain. Brick or cobblestone pavers were also used on many streets in the area but most of these have been repaved with asphalt in recent decades. An important exception is the masonry surface along Nelson Place which remains from its development after 1898.
The overwhelming majority of buildings constructed in the east Row area were residences, but corner commercial buildings are also found in the neighborhood. These buildings were generally constructed to serve as grocery stores, small retail shops, saloons, or other businesses which served the surrounding blocks. In many instances the storekeeper would operate the business on the first story while occupying the second story as a residence.
Since the 1920s very little new construction or alteration to existing buildings has taken place in the East Row Historic District. New construction has been limited to a few buildings such as churches along Washington Avenue. Most properties considered non-contributing in the Mansion Hill or East Newport Historic Districts (Gateway) are pre- 1930 structures which have been significantly altered. The majority of these are frame residences which have had artificial sidings and porch materials added which negates their original appearance. The original historic and architectural character of the East Row Historic District remains dominant and of the almost 1,100 buildings within the historic district boundary, less than forty are new structures or have been substantially altered.
The primary change to the East Row area in the 20th century has been the conversion of single family dwellings to multi-family dwellings. With the construction of new roads and development of suburbs, there was out-migration of owner-occupants. Their residences were often purchased by investors who converted the homes to multi-family rental units. Metal fire escapes were frequently added on the main or side facades, but generally changes were limited to interior alterations to create several apartments within one building.
Today, the East Row Historic District is one of the finest urban historic areas in Kentucky. The quality of its architectural design and number of unaltered residences has been recognized through the inclusion of the area on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Mansion Hill or East Newport Historic Districts. Appreciation for the East Row area has grown in recent years. It continues to be a livable area for its residents and many new families have moved to this section of Newport to renovate the historic homes.
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