The selected area known as Park Place in Norfolk, Virginia is a large mixed-used neighborhood located north of the downtown area and North Ghent Historic District, and immediately south of Colonial Place Historic District. The neighborhood is significant to Norfolk because of its close proximity to downtown business and is surrounded by several Historic Districts (Ghent, Riverview, Colonial Place, and Lafayette-Winona and Larchmont at a further distance). The neighborhood includes multi- and single-family residences, and commercial and light industrial buildings. The Park Place neighborhood encompasses several neighborhoods originally known as Park Place, Kensington Place, Virginia Place and Old Dominion Place.

The area is predominately residential. The typical structures are modest frame bungalows and Queen Anne's. There are also several two- to four-story apartment complexes, which were built in the early 1900's. Commercial and 1ight industrial buildings are concentrated along the boundaries of the neighborhood, along 35th Street and along Colley Avenue. Monroe Elementary School and Park Place Recreation Center, which includes social services, was built in the 1970's. Its location is at the point where the grid formation changes, creating a triangular-shaped center for the neighborhood. Many older structures have been demolished, some replaced with newer structures during various eras. Others were demolished and their lots left empty.

To the north of the school between Colley and Colonial Avenues on 34th Street are recently built single-family frame homes. Although these homes are newer, the architecture blends with the original architecture of the neighborhood, as does the landscaping and street lighting.  Mature trees and perennials dominate the landscape of the residential areas. The majority of streets have sidewalks. There is significant open space in the form of play area surrounding the school and a park at 26th and Munson.

Representatives of local historical architecture are found in the following examples:

Bungalow style: at 608 28th Street is a story and a half dwelling with a stucco exterior (recently covered with aluminum siding and front gable roof dormer. Similar dwellings line the street.  

Queen-Anne style: the Ward house at 3301 Granby Street is one of many large Queen-Anne style homes built in the 1910's that face Lafayette Park.

Shingle style: 545 37th Street  

Spanish Colonial Revival: the two-story apartment building at 2714 Gosnold Street features a stuccoed exterior and decorative parapet.