Westlake, Daly City, California facts for kids
The Westlake District is a neighborhood in Daly City, California. It was one of the first neighborhoods built after World War II in the United States. Westlake was first planned as a suburb for certain families. Today, it is a very diverse place, just like the rest of Daly City.
Westlake is located just south of San Francisco. When it was first built, people often compared it to Levittown, New York. Levittown was another large neighborhood built after the war for many middle-class families.
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Building Westlake
After World War II, many new homes were needed. A builder from San Francisco named Henry Doelger bought about 600 acres of land. This land was mostly sand dunes and empty fields near Daly City.
Doelger decided to build a new community there called Westlake. In 1948, Westlake officially became part of Daly City.
Westlake's Unique Look
Henry Doelger and his team designed almost every building in Westlake. This means that most of the houses and buildings look very similar. Because of this, Westlake is known for its "monostylistic" architecture. This means "one style."
Some people thought Westlake looked a bit plain because of its many similar-looking houses. The famous folk singer Malvina Reynolds even wrote a song about it called "Little Boxes." This song became popular in the 1960s. It was about people wanting to be different, not all the same.
Westlake in the Spotlight
Even with some people calling it plain, Westlake has been quite famous. It has been talked about a lot over its 60-year history.
Schools and Magazines
In the 1950s, the schools in Westlake were designed in a new and interesting way. These schools were so special that they appeared in national magazines. Magazines like Life, Architectural Forum, and Fortune featured them.
A Top Suburb
Later, in the 1970s, a national magazine even named Westlake one of the ten best suburbs in America. This was a big honor for the community.
Henry Doelger's Legacy
In 2003, New York Times newspaper wrote an article about Henry Doelger. The article talked about how much he influenced history. It said that Westlake was one of his most famous and important neighborhoods.
