The western part of Cross Avenue (From Convent Road to Library Road and beyond) is shown as green fields on the 1850 map, but on the maps of 20 years later, the road is laid out and lined with houses.  The part from Patrick Street through to Mulgrave Street, however, seems to be blocked by buildings.

Much of Cross Avenue was modified in parts between 1902 and 1907 as the road and surrounding roads were redeveloped as part of a re-housing program to rid Kingstown of some of the sub-standard housing accommodation of the infamous "courts".  This redevelopment included the construction of red-brick houses on Wolfe Tone Avenue, Desmond Avenue, Tovoli Terrace East, Mills Street and others.