The Development of
Greenbelt and the Decay of Ideals: 1950-1970
An Exposition by Tariq A. Dahmas
May 8, 1996
Greenbelt was a town that was founded and designed
around a distinct set of ideals. These ideals attempted to rebuild the
spirit of community that had long been dead in America's rapidly growing
cities. It was an experimental
community that derived its energy from the
interaction of its populace. Social development was placed in the hand of
its citizens with each member possessing a specific responsibility.
The basic unit of social existence, according to
the original
goals of Greenbelt, was the family. It was the family that seemed to have
brought stability and life to the young community. The town was planned
carefully around the needs of the family, especially those of the
children. Community zoning and planning were designed to ensure that the
needs of the citizens were catered to, rather than the needs of commercial
establishments. It was this intent that kept the community focused around
the need to establish a more pleasant living experience than that offered
in other urban and suburban communities.
Class distinction was not a significant factor in the
structure of
Greenbelt. All families were entitled to the same access to parks,
shopping areas, and community involvement, regardless of their level of
income. This ideal united the community and allowed for greater
development of the social climate in Greenbelt.
Development in Greenbelt, during the 1950s and
1960s,
began to
unravel the goals of the experimental community. This development largely
neglected the founding principles of the community and thus caused the
social structure of Greenbelt to transform. Class distinction and social
level became a distinct characteristic of the new communities that had
emerged within Greenbelt. As a result, Greenbelt has come to appear like
other suburban communities, both in form and function.
This exposition will attempt to analyze the
transformation of
Greenbelt and the degradation of its founding goals due to community
development between 1950 and 1970. It will mainly look at this phenomenon
through a residential perspective- development viewed through the form
of the communities. Such topics as the social stratification of the city
and the effect of development on the condition of the community
will
also be considered.
Visit theVirtual
Greenbelt site to
access a variety of resources on Greenbelt, Maryland
Founding Ideals
Growth: 1950-1970
Analysis
Conclusions and
Outlook
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