Here we have a shot of the peak of post-war planned community housing. Lakewood was developed as a planned community near Long Beach, beginning in late 1949 and taking roughly four years to complete. Home buyers had a choice of seven different floorplans and could take advantage of a 30-year mortgage at only 4% interest. So was it any wonder that 30,000 people lined up to walk through the model houses on the first day of sales? Many of the 60,000 to 70,000 people who originally moved into Lakewood worked at the nearby Douglas Aircraft factory, which, at 3855 Lakewood Blvd, would have been close enough to walk to. (Source: newyorker.com)
Kathleen H. said: “A friend’s family bought their house in Lakewood new. The original sales paperwork clearly states that they will agree to not sell or rent to any persons or color. It was GI housing for white soldiers only.” To which Kevin H. responded: “Yes, and the real estate agents who worked in the office were given strict orders not to sell to blacks or Jews. The funny thing is, at least one of the developers was Jewish himself.”
This is how Lakewood looked in December 2023.
Hi Martin! To tell you the truth, and I think you’ll agree. The color 2023 pix looks more friendlier!!!! The black and white photo looks like a prison camp! Hogans Heroes! Lots of large companies did this nationwide, to accomodate employees. Best story ever is at Warner Bros and Universal.
If you are near the studios, you’ll see lots of tiny houses (still here today) that were made for employees, the background folks at the studios or bit actors.
Go down Hollywood Way in Burbank, and just before you get to WB, you’ll see on the right side about 10 little bungalows that were originally built by Warners for the folks!
Worth a fortune today if you ever wanted to buy or rent one, but they are cute.
Thanks, Tom. I’ve driven past those cute little bungalows for years and wondered about their origin story. And now I know!
Martin, I found them by accident going to work everyday at Warners. I’d pass them and was in awe of these splendid little cottages! They are so cute!
I googled it and there were articles about the origins of those bungalows.
Many were also torn down and/or reconverted. But all the rest is preserved, perhaps historically. They should. Conversely, I was shopping at the 99 cents store on Lankerhshim, near Universal. There are streets and streets of similar tiny homes. They are beautiful. Not as fancy as Burbank, but there they are. Once upon a time used by studio employees. The stories they can tell.
By the way, so sad in 2023 they tore down the Warner/Columbia lot on Hollywood Way. That’s where they filmed BEWITCHED, the PARTRIDGE FAMILY, even the Three Stooges short films back in the 30s. Cement city, looks like corporate offices, although I think they added some new soundstages for Warners.
The top shot looks like it was taken while it was still under construction, it looks as though they haven’t installed windows and doors in many of the houses yet and they certainly haven’t paved the streets let alone put in any landscaping.