Growth of Greenbelt: 1950-1970



The two decades between 1950 and 1970 presented an era of unprecedented growth for the city of Greenbelt. Development enlarged the city from one main neighborhood to over seven distinct neighborhoods. These neighborhoods ventured away stylistically and architecturally from the design of the original dwellings. The founding goals were often bypassed or neglected in this period of rapid development.

Greenbelt grew, during the period 1950-1970, around the central crescent plan of the city. Subdivisions used this old development as a core to build around. These subdivisions mainly consisted of detached single family homes rather than row houses or low-rise apartments. Neighborhoods tended to be strictly homogeneous in housing form. Apartment buildings were also constructed, yet they were almost totally separated from the subdivisions consisting of single family homes. This gave the entire city a new appearance since the old development emphasized mixed housing types closely grouped together.
The 1950s began the period of development for the city with the purchase of hundreds of acres of land by the Greenbelt Veterans Housing Corporation (GVHC). The public was heavily in favor of the development of detached single family homes. "With the new residential development, Greenbelters in the late 1950s felt that a new kind of community was well under way and that the increased tax base resulting from such development would allow the city's high property taxes to be reduced" (Skolnik, 190). Because of this, most of the residents of Greenbelt welcomed the new development and expansion of the city.
The Lakeside (1952) and Woodland Hills (1955) subdivisions were the first to be constructed. Both developments initially contained 49-60 lots. Most of the lots have since been occupied by single family homes. "The Lakeside homes [were] regarded as the most expensive homes in Greenbelt" (Fischetti, 23). These homes were built around the man-made lake to the west of Greenbelt. Land around the lake was zoned for increased, upper-scale residential development. "Many of the older residents of Greenbelt moved from Greenbelt Cooperative homes to the Lakeside subdivision" (Fischetti, 23). The Woodland Hills development was located to the east of the crescent development along Northway Road. Several accommodations had to be made for the residents due to the nature of the development. Residents of Woodland Hills "felt that since there were no sidewalks, there was a danger to the residents having to walk on the roadways to another part of the city" (Fischetti, 21). This, along with other factors, caused the Woodland Hills Citizen association to occasionally petition the city government for special ordinances.
Development trends increased in 1960 from the previous decade. "For Greenbelters the main problem of the 1960s was to keep land development consistent with the principles of the original design" (Skolnik, 190). Yet, developers did not share the same sentiments as the residents of Greenbelt. The developers "wanted higher density commercial and apartment zoning for their property" (Skolnik, 190). This, along with attempts at major highway developments, threatened the character of the community.
The Lakecrest, Lakewood, and Boxwood Village subdivisions were all initiated in 1962. Lakecrest and Lakewood were extensions of the Lakeside community, centered around Greenbelt Lake. These communities were more or less accepted by the citizens and much like in Lakeside and Woodland Hills, most of the residents were former residents of the cooperative homes. These communities tended to diverge away from the original layout of the city. They did not adopt the sidewalk underpass concept or central location around a green space. Boxwood Village was itself somewhat detached from the remainder of the community. "During 1966, the residents of ... Lakecrest, became dissatisfied because of the garden apartment development taking place behind their homes" (Fischetti, 24). This battle was fought for many years throughout Greenbelt over the development of high density housing. "The tumultuous years between 1962 and 1966... [signified] Greenbelt's planned-community concept continually under challenge" (Skolnik, 191).
The main threat to the founding ideals of the city came with the plan to develop apartment buildings. During the 1960s, four major apartment developments were built within Greenbelt. Greenbelt Plaza Apartments (1960) were constructed the closest, of the apartments, to the town center. This development was located to the east of Greenbelt lake/park. Lakeside North Apartments (1962) and Charlestown Village Apartments (1963) were developed to the north and south of the crescent, respectively. Springhill Lake Apartments (1961) were developed the furthest from the town center, to the west of Kenelworth Avenue. This development was the largest in the entire city, with an intended population of 12,000. It could only gain zoning for low-rise apartments and a few townhomes. "The developers... supplied the residents with recreational facilities, such as playgrounds, swimming pools, and tennis courts, thereby eliminating the need for the residents to avail themselves of city operated facilities" (Fischetti, 41). These apartment developments were marginalized through city zoning codes and faced great opposition from the residents of the "core" communities.

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