The development extended radially out from the Radburn railroad station. This shows that while Radburn was built for the motor age, the planners encouraged the use of the railroad for commuting. The Radburn Plaza Building designed by Ackerman was located across the railroad station. The CHC realty office was positioned on the corner of Fairlawn Avenue and Plaza Road such that prospective home buyers arriving by car or train, immediately noticed the CHC upon arrival.
In the preliminary town plan, a Beaux Arts civic axis linked the high school to the elementary school. The green belt was positioned along the Saddle River and was connected to the eastern edge of the town. Industry was planned along a diagonal axes in the southwestern part of the town and linked to the Erie Railroad, Route 4, and George Washington Bridge. A buffer was designed between Fairlawn and the super blocks and there were no cul-de-sacs directly linked to Fairlawn Avenue. Residential lots were laid out around curving roads, and naturalistic paths. There was Sunnyside-like housing planned by the railroad with parking by the tracks.
In the formal town plan, the civic high school axis was modified to take advantage of the local topography. The green belt was detached from the town. To connect important parts of the plan, double laned roads with a network of green islands were implemented. The roads that defined the perimeter of the superblocks south of Fairlawn Avenue became more naturalistic and curvy. Industry was shifted to the opposite side of the street.
By March 1929, most of the development occurred to the north of Fairlawn Avenue. The higher density three and four story Abbot Court apartments designed by Andrew Thomas were constructed near the railroad and commercial building. Single-family housing construction proceeded very rapidly northeast of the railroad.
In November 1929, construction for the elementary school after enough residents lived there to provide the population for the school. Housing construction started to spread southeast of the railraod. Due to the Depression, more inexpensive attached housing emerged in this southeastern precinct. Also, as a result of the Depression, the Fairlawn buffer blocks were not built.
By August 1930, three open space green fingers with surrounding cul-de-sac housing were linked to the central playgrounds surrounding the elementary school.
In the formal town plan, the civic high school axis was modified to take advantage of the local topography. The green belt was detached from the town. To connect important parts of the plan, double laned roads with a network of green islands were implemented. The roads that defined the perimeter of the superblocks south of Fairlawn Avenue became more naturalistic and curvy. Industry was shifted to the opposite side of the street.
By March 1929, most of the development occurred to the north of Fairlawn Avenue. The higher density three and four story Abbot Court apartments designed by Andrew Thomas were constructed near the railroad and commercial building. Single-family housing construction proceeded very rapidly northeast of the railroad.
“Mr. Brown’s office is in New York on Fulton Street, so he catches the 7:53 from Radburn, a fast Erie Commuter that lands him in Jersey City at 8:20. A few minutes in the tube, and he is in his office comfortably by quarter of nine.
…Junior and Emily are off to school via the park paths, without having to cross a single heavy traffic street, in just three minutes they are at a brand new, up-to-date schoolhouse. It just takes a few minutes to leave Baby at the Progressive Nursery School in the Children’s House, where he remains all morning under trained nursery school supervisors from 9 to 12.
Afternoon, after school, is the time when things begin to hum at Radburn. Junior can saunter over to the playground, meet his friends, and pick up a game of ball… Baby is trundled out to the sand pile right at the end of the walk in the park. There he plays with other youngsters of his own age, having the time of his life… there is even more for grownups. Mrs Brown can run over and play a few sets and get back in plenty of time to supervise the children’s lunch. Perhaps she is interested in studying French. There is a class that is only too glad to have her join.
Mr. Brown is entitled to more than merely food and shelter and movies when he gets back home after a day’s work in town… On Saturday afternoons and Sundays all the facilities of Radburn are his to use – swimming, baseball, tennis, archery, basketball, bowling, horseback riding…” [4]
On the cover of another advertisement “Radburn Garden Homes” Radburn cul-de-sacs and children using the open space were depicted on the cover. In this advertisement, the CHC detailed the easy finance plan. There was one bill for: interest on mortgages, mortgage principal, taxes, water, fire insurance, and community expense. In 1928 the lowest price of a house was $7,400 (worth $78,111 today). The downpayment was $14,901. For $93,944, one could buy a house with garage, concrete walks, park, playground system, and landscaping.
4. Fagence, Michael. “The Radburn Idea-1”. Built Environment 1973 v. 2 n. 8 p. 467-470
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