The Central District has a rich multi-ethnic history. It was home to primarily Jewish people from 1890 to WWI. Then Danish people, the Japanese, and eventually African-Americans and other people of color. In more recent decades, more white people have moved in and the black ownership in the community is being represented by new initiatives and institutions like Wa Na Wari home for black arts and culture and Africatown Land Trust that built the new apartments and business district at 23rd and Union.
The house used to be one of many single-family homes in the neighborhood. Over the years, many homes have been torn down and new town homes and multi-family housing has been built. The house is now one of the remaining single-family homes left.
The neighborhood and some of the streets nearby are about as close as one can be to downtown and still park for free.