Leisure World, Seal Beach, California facts for kids

Leisure World Seal Beach is a special community for older adults that opened in 1962. It was a groundbreaking place, introducing many new ideas for senior living. It was the first large-scale housing project for seniors in the U.S. and the first gated community just for them. It was also the first to offer an all-electric home setup and a health insurance plan with an on-site medical center included in the monthly fees.

When it opened, Leisure World Seal Beach was the biggest senior housing development in the world. It was also the largest cooperative housing project in the United States. It became the blueprint for six other Leisure World communities built by the Rossmoor Corp. The community is located in Seal Beach, near the Pacific Ocean in Orange County, California. About 9,600 residents live in 6,608 apartments and condominiums here.

History

Ross W. Cortese and Alona Marlowe Cortese, who later became husband and wife, met while taking real estate classes. Ross was a contractor, and Alona was a former actress with a real estate license. They married in 1948 and started a company called Alona Rey Homes, Inc. They began with small projects and then moved on to bigger ones like Frematic Homes in Anaheim.

Frematic Homes used a new design called "California Ranch." This style brought the outdoors inside with big windows and open spaces. It also used new building methods that were later used in Leisure World. The Corteses were good at public relations, even having a Hollywood actress, Betty Furness, promote their kitchens.

Their success led them to start Rossmoor Corp. in 1951. From 1955 to 1961, they built the "Walled City of Rossmoor." This was a large development in Orange County meant to have all the services of a town. However, Ross Cortese's plan to build a hospital there was not approved.

Interest in Older Adults

Even though the hospital plan didn't work out, the Corteses became very interested in the health and housing needs of older adults. The number of seniors was growing fast after World War II. Their interest led them to donate $4 million to start a school at the University of Southern California. This school became the world's largest program for studying older adults. Alona Cortese also helped create a law center at Chapman University School of Law that gives free legal help to seniors.

This focus on older adults shaped their future projects. In 1961, Ross Cortese said that the housing needs of seniors had not been fully met. He believed no one had truly addressed their financial, medical, and social needs.

Other senior communities like Youngtown and Sun City already existed. But the Corteses imagined a new kind of senior housing. It would be a cooperative community where residents owned a share of the community, not just their home. This share would allow them to live there and use all the shared facilities. The community managers would handle maintenance, painting, plumbing, appliances, and landscaping. It would be close to a city, not "stuck out in the desert." This way, residents could enjoy city life and visits from family. It would also be the first large, gate-controlled, walled retirement community in the U.S. A key feature was free on-site medical care and prescriptions included in the monthly fees, which was another first.

Building and Funding

Rossmoor Leisure World, as it was first called, was planned for a large piece of land in Orange County. This $150 million project was to be the largest cooperative housing development in the U.S. and its first all-electric community.

However, the size of the project and its new cooperative ownership idea made some lenders hesitant. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. finally agreed to fund it, but only if the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guaranteed the loan.

The FHA agreed but set "very strict rules." Rossmoor Corp. could provide the land and plans, but could not build, sell, or manage the community directly. Instead, the FHA required separate non-profit groups to share ownership. The Leisure World Foundation would oversee construction and marketing.

Once residents moved in, they would elect people to serve on the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF). The GRF would manage all the common facilities and provide services like recreation and security. Finally, as each part of the development filled up, the homes and land would be managed by "mutuals." These were smaller non-profit groups owned and run by boards elected by the residents of each area.

Getting the Word Out

Despite the complicated setup, construction of Leisure World Seal Beach began in mid-1961. Interest grew quickly, thanks to a national marketing campaign. A 1962 Life magazine ad called it "the most revolutionary new concept in housing since World War II."

This ad was part of what is believed to be the first national mass-marketing campaign for a housing project. A large public relations firm, Hill and Knowlton, got lots of news coverage. By mid-1963, people from 43 states and 11 countries had moved in. The Corteses' advertising firm spent so much money that Leisure World's 1963 ad budget was even mentioned in a magazine.

Leisure World's fame allowed the Corteses to gather important people for their Leisure World Foundation board. This included a former head of the FBI's Los Angeles office and former government officials. Famous people like Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley and Hollywood producer Mervyn LeRoy also joined the board.

The community would have typical retirement features like a golf course, swimming pool, and clubhouses. But the Seal Beach design also included special features for older adults. Stairs were replaced by ramps. Countertops were lower, and doors were wide for wheelchair access. Showers had built-in seats to prevent falls. An on-site medical center and pharmacy would offer free doctor visits, tests, physical therapy, and medicine. Each "mutual" area would have large green spaces. Central parking areas would keep the living areas park-like and encourage walking.

Opening Day

On October 29, 1961, about four months after construction started, the first model homes were shown to the public. By the end of the day, 10,000 people had visited, and about 550 of the 844 available homes were sold. By March 1963, it was estimated that 300,000 people had toured the community.

Even though the homes were less than 800 square feet, they attracted surprisingly well-off buyers. Most residents no longer worked, but their average income in 1963 was $6,000, which was 80% higher than the national average.

On June 8, 1962, just one year after construction began, the first residents moved in. A year later, 5,200 homes had been sold. More than 10% of the first 4,500 homes were bought by mail, many without the buyers ever seeing Leisure World. All the original homes were sold by late 1964.

Leisure World's Health Plan

The Corteses' health plan was often called "utopian." It was launched during a big national debate about government involvement in social welfare. This plan was a major selling point in their advertising. It attracted attention from magazines and newspapers across the U.S. and Canada.

The community's first executive director, Lewis M. Letson, said Leisure World's health plan showed that private businesses could meet the health needs of older adults. He believed it was a better solution than government-run healthcare.

The Corteses invested a lot in the medical plan. Ross Cortese hired a former medical director for the United States Public Health Service to lead Leisure World's medical center. Leisure World quickly became a testing ground for senior health. Within the clinic's first year, studies on heart and vascular diseases were being done among the residents.

Because so many seniors lived in one well-known community in a conservative area, Leisure World became a focus for the John F. Kennedy administration. Kennedy's team was pushing for a government-subsidized senior health care plan. In 1963, a government official visited Leisure World to promote the idea. After Kennedy's death, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent his press secretary to make another pitch for what would become Medicare.

Ironically, the Corteses' health care plan led to their removal from managing Leisure World Seal Beach. Soon after the first residents moved in, the popularity of free doctor visits, tests, and prescriptions overwhelmed the medical staff. The Corteses had greatly underestimated how much people would use free healthcare. Instead of the predicted 6.2 doctor visits per year, residents averaged 12 visits annually.

In 1963, the GRF board dealt with the unexpected costs by adding a 20% co-pay for all services and prescriptions. In 1964, when the board asked for an increase in fees, 70% of the extra cost was for medical care. This led to a resident revolt and a lawsuit in 1965. This lawsuit effectively ended the Corteses' direct involvement in Leisure World-Seal Beach's management.

When the federal Medicare program started in 1965, Leisure World stopped its community-run health plan. On March 7, 1966, the first Leisure World residents signed up for Medicare.

Services

Most of the Corteses' vision for a complete seniors' community came true, except for the free medical plan. The community has a heated swimming pool and spa, a large fitness center, and a 9-hole golf course. These were all updated between 2020 and 2022. There are also special areas for pickleball, bocce ball, ballet, dance, table tennis, shuffleboard, and billiards.

Its five clubhouses have studios for art, woodworking, and crafts like ceramics. Other spaces are used for video production, theater events, and meetings for over 150 clubs.

After Orange County's financial problems in 1994, the GRF bought the local library branch. It is now inside Leisure World's security wall and has 40,000 books. In 2021, the community opened a learning center with internet access for college courses. It also has a fully equipped cooking classroom for learning about different foods and healthy eating. Art events and guest speakers are held in the clubhouses and two special performance areas. These include a 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheater and a smaller stage next to the library.

The community has an on-site medical center run by a private company. It provides doctors, X-rays, lab services, physical therapy, eye care, acupuncture, and specialist care. There is also a pharmacy nearby. Leisure World also has a credit union, a weekly newspaper, a copy center, and three independent churches. Many other religious groups meet in the clubhouses. There's also a recycling center and a car wash. Leisure World is a major employer in Seal Beach, with about 175 full- and part-time workers. They handle maintenance, inspections, property transfers, and financial services. The GRF's security team provides patrols, gate control, and parking enforcement 24 hours a day. A shopping center built by Cortese is just outside the security wall. It has banks, medical and dental offices, hair salons, car repair, and stores selling golf gear, jewelry, medical supplies, and groceries. Free minibuses travel around the community and connect to public transportation.

Community volunteers offer other services. The Golden Age Foundation is a charity that has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Leisure World projects. Many other community groups also provide financial and volunteer help to residents and projects.

In the News

Should Older Adults Have Leisure?

Even before Leisure World Seal Beach was finished, its huge marketing campaign made it a topic of national discussion. People debated the social, economic, and psychological effects of communities just for older adults. Some journalists praised the energy of Leisure World residents. But one writer suggested that too much leisure could weaken older minds. He called retirement villages "escapist" places where "reality and utopian fantasy merge." Other articles called Leisure World and similar places "old-age ghettos." One article even criticized retirees for not working past 70 and contributing to the economy.

1995 Flood

A flood control channel that runs through Leisure World Seal Beach overflowed on January 4, 1995, after a 5-inch rainstorm. About 170 homes in Leisure World were too damaged to live in, and 200 more had some water damage. The amphitheater filled with 10 feet of water, and a church basement had 12 feet of water. The mayor of Seal Beach estimated the flood caused $2 million in damages.

Homeowner Association Law

Leisure World Seal Beach played a key role in creating rules for homeowner associations (HOA) in California. It was involved in two important lawsuits.

Golden Rain Foundation v. Leisure World Foundation (1965-1966)

To make sure creditors for the Seal Beach development were paid, the FHA wanted professional management to continue. As community fees rose to pay for the medical plan, residents became very upset. There were many heated public meetings. Court documents show that a city official suggested investigating a resident protest leader who was also running for city council. When two private detectives were arrested for wiretapping his phone, a major revolt began. After a new group of candidates won the GRF board election, the old board signed a management agreement with a Cortese-linked company. Some residents felt this went against the developers' promise that "residents will formulate the policies of the community." Despite strong opposition from the FHA, the new GRF board sued Cortese. In October 1966, the court ended the ties with Cortese's management company. This allowed the GRF board to make important decisions about managing the community.

Golden Rain Foundation v. Carol Franz (2004-2008)

A group of residents asked to see GRF board documents, as allowed by California HOA rules. The GRF argued that it was not an HOA because it didn't own homes. It claimed it was just a management company for the "mutuals" (the groups that owned the homes). In a series of court cases, ending at the California Court of Appeals, the GRF's unique structure was ruled to be an HOA. This meant it had to follow all relevant HOA rules.

Demographics

In 2019, 9,595 people lived in Leisure World Seal Beach. Their average age was 74. Slightly more than 60 percent of the residents were female. Thirty-three percent of the community's population was over 80 years old. Fifty-one residents were aged 100 or more. The community covers 531 acres, with about 11,560 people per square mile.

Attractions

The Leisure World Globe, at the community's entrance, is one of the largest globes in the nation. Ross Cortese wanted his new development to stand out. He remembered a large globe from a 1939 fair. He couldn't buy the original, so he ordered a 32-foot-tall, 14-ton rotating globe. It was originally surrounded by fountains. Many people think the Leisure World globe was copied from the Unisphere at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. However, the Leisure World globe was finished months before the Unisphere's plans were revealed. The Leisure World globe is the only freestanding sculpture listed among "Orange County’s 125 Icons." It was cleaned up in 2016.

The Leisure World Amphitheater is an outdoor performance area with 2,500 seats. It hosts community events, performances, and national entertainers. Its stage is very similar to the first permanent stage at the Hollywood Bowl, which opened in 1922.

The Leisure World Historical Society Museum displays old items, photos, and documents in the first clubhouse built in Leisure World. The community's historical records are now kept at the University of California, Irvine.

A bronze statue of a ballerina, called Premiere Danseuse Etoile, is at the entrance to Leisure World Seal Beach’s Administration Building. It was made by the famous Italian sculptor Pino Conte. The Corteses gave it to the community in 1963. Residents now often call it “Twiggy.”

Nearby Attractions

• California State University, Long Beach
  • Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum
  • Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
  • Carpenter Arts Center - This concert hall displays items from the music group The Carpenters.
  • Walter Pyramid – This 18-story arena is one of only three true pyramids in the United States.
• Joint Forces Training Base – Los Alamitos
  • JFTB Aquatics Center: The training site for the U.S. Women's National Water Polo Team is open to the public.
  • Navy Golf Course: This public 27-hole course was Tiger Woods’ home course when he was a child.
• Long Beach Marina: The largest city-owned marina system in the U.S., with 3,600 boat slips.
• Rancho Los Alamitos – In the 1850s, this was the main office for the largest cattle ranch in the U.S. Old buildings from the early 19th century and gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. are open for tours.
• Seal Beach Municipal Pier – At 1,835 feet, it is California’s second-longest wooden pier.
• San Gabriel River Trail – A 35-mile trail that passes alongside the community.
• Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge
• U.S. Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
  • World War II National Submarine Memorial – West

Recognition

• Ross Cortese was named “Builder of the Year” in 1963 by the National Association of Home Builders.
• Ross Cortese was added to the Housing Hall of Fame in 1983 by the National Association of Home Builders.
• Ross and Alona Cortese were named among “The Most 100 Influential Builders of the Century” in 1999 by Builder Magazine.
• Leisure World was named among "Seven Most Popular Destinations for Seniors” in 2017 by The Motley Fool.
• It was voted “Best Orange County Leisure Community” by Los Angeles Times Readers’ Poll in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
• It was named among "America's Seven Best and Most Affordable Beach Towns for Retirement" in 2020 by the National Association of Realtors.
• It was named among "10 Most Affordable Beach Towns to Buy a Home" in 2022 by the National Association of Realtors.

Notable People

• Cecile Belle Adam, (1881-1977): Published the novel Red of the Dawn in 1937.
• Alice B. Addenbrooke, (1881-1972): Helped save historic properties in Nevada.
• Don Albin Alford, (1897-1973): Founded and published The Independent newspaper.
• Tom Amberry, (1922-2017): Set a Guinness World Record by making 2,750 basketball free throws in a row at age 71.
• William W. Biddle, (1900-1973): A social scientist who studied propaganda and community development.
• Loureide J. Biddle, (1902-1996): Co-wrote The Community Development Process with her husband.
• Dee Booher, (1948-2022): An athlete and actor known as “Matilda the Hun” in G.L.O.W. (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling).
• Ruby Frazier Coppedge, (1892-1970): Wrote the best-selling historical novel "Red Morning" in 1946.
• Richard C. Currier, (1893-1984): Worked on nearly every Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang comedy as an editor.
• Earl Stanfield Fullbrook, (1883-1964): A university dean and secretary/treasurer for the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
• Anton Grot (1884-1974): A five-time Academy Award nominee for art direction, known for creating the look of Warner Bros. films in the 1930s.
• Luella J. Hall, (1891-1973): Published a long book about the relationship between the United States and Morocco.
• Joseph J. Healy, (1926-2019): CEO of Flying Tiger Line, a large air cargo carrier.
• Luke I.C. Kim, (1930-2015): A key figure in understanding how culture affects mental illness treatment among Asians.
• Mary F. Lindsley, (1907-1997): A creative writing professor who published over 15 books.
• Joseph Longfield, (1890-1975): A former mayor of Hanford, California.
• Sherman Lowe, (1894-1968): A screenwriter for Hollywood westerns, adventures, and spy films.
• Kate Pedigo, (1911-2016): A folk-art painter who published books in three genres after turning 80.
• Alvin P. Pierson, (1898-1975): A finance professor and a Fulbright Program professor in Iraq.
• Francis B. Settle, M.D., (1891-1975): A founding member of the American Board of Surgery, which helped set standards for surgery as a specialty.

Images for kids

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  The 30-foot-tall globe at the Leisure World Seal Beach entrance

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  Over 20% of Leisure World is devoted to green spaces and gardens.

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  A healthcare center has been onsite since Leisure World's founding.

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  Leisure World's clubhouses host activities for most of the community's 150 clubs.

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  Seal Beach Pier