Welcome to
       Belair
   B O W I E ,  M D . 
Levittown,
     Maryland?
When Levitt and Sons purchased the Woodward Estate, Belair, in 1957, Levittown, N.J. was already being prepared for its opening the following year.  A complete Levittown-type community was envisioned for Belair right from the start.  Although the pre-opening article in the Washington Post stated that the name of the community had been changed*, early references to the community when Levitt purchased the land stated that the Belair name would be preserved.  Press releases clearly indicated the intent to create a "Levittown" type of community as Levitt had before.  With the planning of individual, distinct neighborhoods, land donated for schools and churches, and the provision of community amenities, Levitt's original vision--and well beyond--was inarguably fulfilled.  And while Belair was never to become Levittown, Maryland, one can certainly say that it became
"Levittown,"
     Maryland.

 
* While no reference to an alternate name for Belair has been found, it is possible that the name of Strathmore was being considered.  One year following the opening of Belair, the Levitt and Sons trademark community name of Strathmore--used in Levitt's New York commuities before Levittown--was revived with the opening of Strathmore at Matawan, N. J.  It would be the first of many Strathmore communities that Levitt and Sons would build in the U.S. throughout the 1960s.

View current photos from Belair...
FUTURE LINK TO BELAIR AT BOWIE TODAY
DOWN SUSSEX LANE

A column by former Bowiean, Jim Smart.
 BELAIR
             A  N  D
      BOWIE
   THE  SECTIONS

BELAIR AT BOWIE
1960-1968
  Somerset
     1960-196x
  Buckingham
  Kenilworth
  Foxhill
  Tulip Grove*
     1961-196x
  Long Ridge
  Meadowbrook
  Chapel Forge
  Whitehall
  Rockledge
  Overbrook
  Yorktown
     1966-196x
  Idlewild
  Victoria Heights
  Heather Hills
     196x-1968
  Glenridge
     1969

POINTER RIDGE AT BELAIR
1968

BELAIR TOWN
1968-1969

BELAIR TOWN II
1969-1970

BELAIR VILLAGE
Pointer Ridge Park
   1968-19xx
Amber Meadows
   19xx-1971


LAKE VILLAGE
1972-1975?
Arcadia
  Pointer Ridge
  Northview

??? (name of houseline unknown)
  Pointer Ridge

NORTHVIEW
1975-1976

NORTHVIEW ESTATES
1976-1978

*A group of homesites adjacent to Tulip Grove was later developed with the 1965 homes.  This addition to Tulip Grove was separated from the original Tulip Grove section by Route Md. 450.  The road was realigned in 2005, making the later section of Tulip Grove contiguous with the original section.



        BELAIR     
               B  O  W  I  E ,   M  D .

Location: City of Bowie (annexed 1963) in Prince Georges County, Md.

Constructed by Levitt and Sons, Inc.

Open for sales October 8, 1960.


Opening day at Belair, October 8, 1960
In foreground, potential buyers line up to inspect the Country Clubber sample home located on Sussex Lane (click image to view larger size).
Source:  House & Home, January 1961

Construction completed in 1978 (includes all Levitt and Sons sections).

First home occupied: .

Belair Exhibit Center and sample homes located on Sussex Lane on Route Md. 450 (formerly U.S. 50) until 1968.

4,500 homes planned initially.

Approximately xxxxx homes constructed (includes all Levitt and Sons sections).

Street naming: Alliterative by section name.

Unincorporated areas of Bowie and Mitchellville annexed to the Town of Bowie (incorporated 1870 as Huntington City) to form the City of Bowie in 1963.

Official web site for the City of Bowie.

The 1961 Houses:

BOOKLET
Not Available.

HOUSES
Tour all eight sample homes and select the style of your new home in Belair.  Six styles are available in varying exteriors.  Each is complete with Central Air-Conditioning for year-round comfort!  First residents will select homesites in Somerset, Belair's first of many planned neighborhoods.  Three- and four-bedroom homes are available, all with one- or two-car car garage.  Included in the sale price are refrigerator, stove, and clothes washer and dryer.  And schools and community amenities are included too!  You're sure to find the home at Belair that suits your needs, for any size family!  And remember, at Belair, there are no hidden charges--"the price we say is the price you pay!"  No wonder American Home magazine says you get 40% more for your money at Belair. 

CAPE COD
RENDERING

PLAN
  Source: House & Home magazine
1-1/2 Story (Cape Cod).  4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Front Portico or partial Brick front, Dining Room with Sliders to back lawn and Garage access, Laundry-Utility Room accessible from Garage, One-car Garage.

RANCHER
RENDERING
PLAN  Source: House & Home magazine
Rancher.  3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Gable or Hip Roof front, Covered Entry, Entry Foyer with Dual Guest Closet, Living-Dining Room, Family Room with Sliders to back lawn, Front-facing Kitchen open to Family Room, Laundry-Utility Room with Garage access, One-car Garage.

3-BEDROOM COLONIAL
RENDERING
PLAN  Source: House & Home magazine
2-Story Center-hall Colonial.  3 Bedrooms, 2-1/2 Baths, Front Portico, Entry Foyer, Front-to-rear Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Rear Family Room with Sliders to back lawn, Kitchen with Serving Counter to Family Room, Laundry-Utility Room, Master Bedroom with Walk-in Closet, One-car Garage
.

4-BEDROOM COLONIAL
RENDERING
PLAN  Source: House & Home magazine
2-Story Center-hall Colonial.  4 Bedrooms, 2-1/2 Baths, Entry Foyer, Front-to-rear Living Room with Box Window, Formal Dining Room with Box Window, Rear Family Room with Sliders to back lawn, Kitchen with Serving Counter to Family Room, Laundry-Utility Room, One-car Garage
.

COUNTRY CLUBBER
RENDERING
PLAN
1-1/2 Story.  4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Front Portico or Overhead Trellised Entry, Cut Stone Front, Entry Foyer, Living Room with Bay or Box Window and Fireplace set into Wood Paneled wall, Formal Dining Room, Kitchen with Separate Wall Oven and Countertop Range, Dishwasher, Disposal, and Serving Counter to Family Room, Rear Family Room with Sliders to back lawn, Laundry Room with Washer and Dryer and Garage Access, First-floor Master Bedroom with Dual Closets, Guest Bath with Wall-wide Vanity area, Upper Level with Two Bedrooms and Bath, Attic Storage areas accessible from upper hall and bedroom, Oversized Two-car Garage with Storage and Utility Areas
.  Available in four exteriors.

MANOR HOUSE
RENDERING
PLAN
2-Story Center-hall Colonial.  4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 Lavatories, Front Portico or Covered Entry, Brick Front, Entry Foyer with Turned Staircase, Front-to-rear Living Room with Fireplace, Formal Dining Room, Wood-Paneled Library with built-in Bookcases, Eat-in Kitchen with Separate Wall Oven and Countertop Range, Dishwasher, Disposal, Windowed Countertop area, Service Door to back lawn, and Garage access, Laundry Room with Built-in Ironing Board, Utility Room, Master Bedroom with Dressing Area and Walk-in Closet, Master Bath with tub and separate Glass-enclosed shower, Dual Main Bath with separate Lavatory, Attic Storage accessible with Pull-Down Stairway, Oversized Two-car Garage
.  Available in four exteriors.

BELAIR IN THE NEWS
View press releases and news articles for Belair at Bowie.

Washington Post
Article 1
"Levitt Ready to Unveil His Belair"--preview of the opening of Belair at Bowie. (10/1/1960)

Washington Star
Article 1
"Levitt Bid High At $1,750,000 for Woodward Estate"--Levitt wins bid for Belair Estate after losing to a lower bid four months earlier.  The early estimate of 6,000 houses was limited to the Belair property only and did not account for Levitt's ultimate build-out on adjoining properties south of the U.S. 50 expressway in the Mitchellville-Collington area. (8/27/1957)
Article 2
"Belair Won't Lift Taxes, Levitt Tells 'Neighbors'"--Levitt met with the Mitchellville Civic Association prior to starting construction on Belair to establish himself as a "good neighbor." (12/18/1957)

LEVITTOWNBEYOND ADDS...
Belair is conveniently located in the Capital Corridor mid-way between Washington, D.C. and Annapolis off the John Hanson Highway (Routes U.S. 50 and I-595).

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON.

Page last revised 2 December 2012.