69th Anniversary:
THE INVENTION OF THE SUBURB
At the end of WWII, the federal government had a serious problem that grew worse by the day: a severe housing shortage driven by unprecedented demand.
Millions of military veterans had returned from service and were eager to begin their families and the birth rate was soaring.
The government made billions in credit available to construction companies and offered buyers 5-percent mortgages with VA and FHA loans. Within three years, a staggering 4 million houses were ready for sale.
One of the first builders was Abraham Levitt and his three sons. In 1947, Abraham purchased 4,000 acres of potato fields in Hempstead N.Y., 25 miles east of Manhattan. It was here the Levitts created the first and largest postwar suburban community ever, called Levittown.
Levittown was the first truly mass-produced suburb and is regarded as the archetype suburbs.
Levitt revolutionized home building by becoming the Henry Ford of houses. Levitt used assembly-line production, where each of his 27 non-union workers was trained to specialize in a specific construction task. Each house was finished in 27 steps and took 15 minutes! That added up to 30 new houses per day.
In three years, Levitt built and sold 10,600 houses, inhabited by more than 40,000 people. Quality houses. Small and efficient. Yes, they came in only three styles. Nearly identical. Affordable for those who earned $3,800 annually: a price of $7,990 for $100 down; $56 monthly.
Each came with appliances (one model had pink appliances), radiant-heated tile floors, a fireplace, and built-in TV and Hi-Fi. No garage. No fences allowed.
Levittown also came with parks, playgrounds, swimming and kiddie pools, schools, churches, baseball diamonds, handball courts, and shopping centers.
Levittowners come from all classes and walks of life, but only white life. No blacks and, even though Levitt was Jewish, no Jews either.
Residents still think fondly of the place, an idyllic playground for the dozens of children on each block.
Today, 69 years later, Levittown homes have been customized, expanded and landscaped. Only two original homes remain.
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