The pollution and overcrowding that resulted from the industrial revolution generated Howard's interest in finding solutions to modern social ills. Howard wanted to fit a fully functioning community into a compact, self-sustaining and easily replicable design. The pattern was focused on a central hub of industrial and commercial activity with branches stemming from the center.
This organic type of growth was to house no more than 30,000 people in approximately 6,000 acres. A main transportation route connected each branch. Stops were located in the center of activity, connecting each area.
All income levels were to be represented. Low and upper class citizens would find suitable housing fairly close to each other. However, private ownership of land was not provided for. The monies for rent first paid the debts of construction and infrastructure before being reinvested into the community. There were other big differences.
Businesses were monopolistic in garden cities. As new growth happened, the same owners were to franchise into the new hubs. Government buildings were held in special regard and were given the most accessible and prominent locations. Farmland was also held in high regard totaling over three-quarters of the land.
To build support for his ideas, Howard spoke to any group that would listen. This proved a tremendous help as acceptance of the ideas grew. Eventually he had established the Garden City Association and a plot of land was purchased in 1903 for the first project.
The first garden city was called Letchworth. With investment backing from the owners of Cadbury Chocolates and Lever Soaps, this first city was built near London in North Hertfordshire in England. Although it was considered a success, Letchworth contained an inadequate supply of low-income housing.
Success in Letchworth brought about interest from the government and legislation was passed in July 1921 to allow for governmental development assistance of garden cities in England. The funds provided loans for a lower priced stratum of housing. The second garden city, named Welwyn (England), was also a success.
After World War I, the rebuilding of England saw widespread interpretations of Howard's model garden city. The idea was successful in the U.S. with construction of Radburn, New Jersey.
Howard's ideas really hit home with the U.S. government. Dr. Rexford G. Tugwell, head of the Suburban Resettlement Division of the federal Resettlement Administration was greatly influential in getting President Roosevelt to approve a re-packaged version of the garden cities idea as part of the New Deal. Tugwell called the American version "greenbelt" cities. Examples of these cities include Greenhills, Ohio; Greenbelt, Maryland; and Greendale, Wisconsin were all part of the greenbelt of new suburbs in the states.
Adam Sowder is a fourth-year senior at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is studying Urban Geography with a focus on Planning.
