History of Housing & Development
Early 20th Century Neighborhood Subdivision Development
~Van Nuys [1]
In 1911, Isaac Newton Van Nuys entitled his existing 60 acres of property, “The New Town of Van Nuys” and opened up lot sales to the public. This was the first planned community in San Fernando Valley and houses are developed very quickly by buyers eager to take advantage of the land. Today the town is known as Van Nuys and is encorporated into the city of Los Angeles
~Hollywood [2]
In 1887, Harvey Henderson Wilcox registered his 160 acres of land in Cahuenga Valley with Los Angeles. He named it ‘Hollywood’ and planned to create a town for devout Christians to get away from the evil temptations of the world. This is a far different picture from what we see today in Hollywood. Known for each movies stars, movie productions, and scandal - Hollywood is everything but a great place to escape the evil temptations of the world.
~Lakewood [3]
In 1949, developers Louis Boyar, Mark Taper and Ben Weingart purchased 3,375 acres of land, name it Lakewood, and began to quickly develop it into what would be called ‘the largest housing development of its time’ by Time Magazine. Within five years, they pave 133 streets and build 17,500 factory-line style homes which sell quickly in a market that has more buyers than homes available. Forced into becoming its own city, after being rejected by Long Beach for annex, Lakewood contracted with the county of Los Angeles for police, fire, and street maintenance services. Lakewood was the first in the nation to become a ‘contracted city’. Many cities nationally followed suit, and a quarter of Californian cities follow this model today.
~Van Nuys [1]
In 1911, Isaac Newton Van Nuys entitled his existing 60 acres of property, “The New Town of Van Nuys” and opened up lot sales to the public. This was the first planned community in San Fernando Valley and houses are developed very quickly by buyers eager to take advantage of the land. Today the town is known as Van Nuys and is encorporated into the city of Los Angeles
~Hollywood [2]
In 1887, Harvey Henderson Wilcox registered his 160 acres of land in Cahuenga Valley with Los Angeles. He named it ‘Hollywood’ and planned to create a town for devout Christians to get away from the evil temptations of the world. This is a far different picture from what we see today in Hollywood. Known for each movies stars, movie productions, and scandal - Hollywood is everything but a great place to escape the evil temptations of the world.
~Lakewood [3]
In 1949, developers Louis Boyar, Mark Taper and Ben Weingart purchased 3,375 acres of land, name it Lakewood, and began to quickly develop it into what would be called ‘the largest housing development of its time’ by Time Magazine. Within five years, they pave 133 streets and build 17,500 factory-line style homes which sell quickly in a market that has more buyers than homes available. Forced into becoming its own city, after being rejected by Long Beach for annex, Lakewood contracted with the county of Los Angeles for police, fire, and street maintenance services. Lakewood was the first in the nation to become a ‘contracted city’. Many cities nationally followed suit, and a quarter of Californian cities follow this model today.