About this property
The Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District is a residential historic district located in Pontiac, Michigan and roughly bounded by Montcalm Street, Perry Street, Joslyn Avenue, Gage Street, Glenwood Street, and Nelson Street. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. At the close of World War I, demand for automobiles exploded, and in 1919 General Motors found that it could not keep up with the demand. This was in part due to a critical housing shortage near its plant in Pontiac: although the company could find workers, the workers could not find any housing. In response, GM established the Modern Housing Corporation. The company first began developing 750 houses on a 660-acre parcel just southwest of the current district, and in October 1919 continued by platting the Modern Housing Corporation Addition. The neighborhood was developed under the leadership of Pierre S. du Pont, then Chairman of GM's board of directors. Du Pont commissioned William Pitkin of Boston to lay out the streets of the neighborhood, and Davis, McGrath & Kiessling of New York to design the homes. Construction began immediately. General Motors promoted the housing to its employees, offering financial incentives and reduced down payments. By 1923, over 80% of the lots in the addition had homes built on them, and by 1926 the construction was substantially complete. Although the neighborhood declined as Pontiac's fortunes sank, it has recently seen an upturn. The Modern Housing Corporation Addition contains 261 modest homes, along with three public spaces, in a 61-acre tract. All but 12 of the houses are built from one of 16 architectural patterns. The lots are generally 50 feet by 100 feet, with houses of one to two stories and two to four bedrooms, finished with clapboard, wood shingle, stucco and brick. Many of the two-story houses have different materials on each story. National Register of Historic Places listings in Oakland County, Michigan
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
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Everything a full report reveals about Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District
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Questions about this property
When was Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District listed on the National Register?
Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 1989.
What type of historic resource is Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District?
Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District?
The period of significance for Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District is recorded as the modern era.
Can I research the history near Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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