In the old days, a town just wandered about. Some were through streets. Some dead ended. Some had trees and other didn’t. Some had big lots, some small. Some had horses. And then, the world began to develop horse sense. San Lorenzo Village was one of the nation’s first planned communities. It was drawn out with set parcels, designated schools, churches, parks, and retail centers. It aspired to be a garden city, and was flanked by evergreen trees of life.
We are not satisfied to merely supply shelter,” David Bohannon, its key developer stated. We resolved to create quality houses…enduring homes…to create an attractive and permanent modern community.” He bought 350 acres of farmland in unincorporated Alameda County, and planned to carry out the largest homebuilding program in the nation at the time: a group of 1,392 homes costing more than $7 million.
That was 1944, the birth of San Lorenzo, a city of just about 25,000 residents today, in the East Bay area, between San Leandro to the north, and Hayward to the south. Like a good student handling an assignment, he sought to cover all the bases. His successful planned community creation was soon dubbed as the “California method” of homebuilding.
“Big Dave” Bohannon, he was thereafter called. He went on to launch a long career in housing, commercial and industrial development in the Bay Area. It all began with vision, the vision to use an artist’s approach to home building and city planning, and carve out a town of character. This same approach is nurtured by San Lorenzo tutors. See the whole picture, envision the steps to teach necessary skills, and generate a floor plan to success.
As students master skills, they too grow in vision and dreams and goals leading to long-range educational and career success. By the late 1970s, Bohannon was an acknowledged giant in the national homebuilding industry. His success in building San Lorenzo Village led to national recognition.
The San Lorenzo village, Bohannon developed, was the forerunner in launching his new method: “operative building.” This saved money, lessened the costs of homes, and added character and beauty to his planned communities. San Lorenzo Village streets, for example, were planned to reduce traffic speed and keep the neighborhoods safer for children. He fostered a sense of community and started the movement of Better Housing for the Working Man, and Every Lot a Garden Spot.
Soon San Lorenzo, Dave’s planned community, was being dubbed the “flower-land of the East Bay. All this, for just about $6,000 per house. Wow! What a dream. Like “Big Dave”, San Lorenzo can help students hone skills, develop vision, and live the San Lorenzo American Dream.