Seaside Village was built by the federal government in response to the housing problem for factory workers in World War I.  Bridgeport manufacturers had expanded their factories, but were unable to maximize production due to a lack of adequate housing for workers.

At first, Bridgeport manufacturers attempted to take on the housing issue themselves.
 They wanted to attract workers to Bridgeport, not just for the short-term war needs, but for the future of the city, and therefore chose to build quality housing.
 They chose to set a high standard for housing by creating the most desirable model of American working class housing.
  They hired the best architect and the best town planner in the country -  Mr. R. Clipston Sturgis of Boston, as the architect, and Mr. Andrew Shurleff of Boston, as the town planner.
   The local housing authority built some housing initially in the Lordship section of Stratford and in the Grasmere section of Fairfield, but could not build housing fast enough to meet the needs of the war effort.

The federal government stepped in to help Bridgeport and other cities across the country.
  Congress authorized and funded the United States Housing Corporation (USHC)  in July 1918 with $100 million in capital.
 The Director of USHC's town planning division was Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., whose father designed Central Park and Seaside Park.

The USHC chose a number of locations in Bridgeport to build worker housing, but the largest lot was the one owned by The Crane Corporation.
 It became known as the Crane Lot or the Crane Development until shortly before it was completed, when it was renamed Seaside Village.
 Its location within walking distance of many factories and its proximity to Seaside Park made it desirable.

Seaside Village was built in approximately 90 days, starting in late October 1918 and ending in early March 1919.
 377 homes were planned, but only 257 were built due to the end of the war shortly after construction began.

Seaside Village began as rentals for factory workers and their families, but became owner-occupied by 1955, when 90% of the tenants agreed to become part of cooperative housing.
  Whereas most federally funded housing projects have come and gone, including Marina Village, across the street which was built in the 1940s for WWII factory workers, Seaside Village remains a successful model for a high-density urban community to this day.

Seaside Village is on the National Register of Historic Places due to its architecture, community planning, and social history.
  It became one of the first collaborations of city planners, architects, and landscape designers in creating a comprehensive approach to community planning.
   It is cited in architectural textbooks and is of great interest to architectural historians due to the precedents it set for later development, its aesthetics, its sustainability, and desirability as a place to live.
Seaside Village was built by the federal government in response to the housing problem for factory workers in World War I.  Bridgeport manufacturers had expanded their factories, but were unable to maximize production due to a lack of adequate housing for workers.
At first, Bridgeport manufacturers attempted to take on the housing issue themselves.  They wanted to attract workers to Bridgeport, not just for the short-term war needs, but for the future of the city, and therefore chose to build quality housing.  They chose to set a high standard for housing by creating the most desirable model of American working class housing.   They hired the best architect and the best town planner in the country -  Mr. R. Clipston Sturgis of Boston, as the architect, and Mr. Andrew Shurleff of Boston, as the town planner.    The local housing authority built some housing initially in the Lordship section of Stratford and in the Grasmere section of Fairfield, but could not build housing fast enough to meet the needs of the war effort.
The federal government stepped in to help Bridgeport and other cities across the country.   Congress authorized and funded the United States Housing Corporation (USHC)  in July 1918 with $100 million in capital.  The Director of USHC's town planning division was Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., whose father designed Central Park and Seaside Park.
The USHC chose a number of locations in Bridgeport to build worker housing, but the largest lot was the one owned by The Crane Corporation.  It became known as the Crane Lot or the Crane Development until shortly before it was completed, when it was renamed Seaside Village.  Its location within walking distance of many factories and its proximity to Seaside Park made it desirable.
Seaside Village was built in approximately 90 days, starting in late October 1918 and ending in early March 1919.  377 homes were planned, but only 257 were built due to the end of the war shortly after construction began.
Seaside Village began as rentals for factory workers and their families, but became owner-occupied by 1955, when 90% of the tenants agreed to become part of cooperative housing.   Whereas most federally funded housing projects have come and gone, including Marina Village, across the street which was built in the 1940s for WWII factory workers, Seaside Village remains a successful model for a high-density urban community to this day.
Seaside Village is on the National Register of Historic Places due to its architecture, community planning, and social history.   It became one of the first collaborations of city planners, architects, and landscape designers in creating a comprehensive approach to community planning.    It is cited in architectural textbooks and is of great interest to architectural historians due to the precedents it set for later development, its aesthetics, its sustainability, and desirability as a place to live.
Seaside Village Historic District