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After World War II, African Americans struggled to find housing in much of Houston. Restrictive covenants in some recorded plats specifically excluded African Americans, while in other neighborhoods discrimination was more subtle, yet no less real. In response to the unfair housing practices, Jewish developers, Melvin Silverman and Bernard Paul, collaborated with Black realtor, Judson Robinson, Sr. (1904-1986), to develop a master planned community for African Americans called Pleasantville. This undertaking provided 1,500 homes intended for middle-income African Americans, including veterans and their families.
By late 1949, the neighborhood’s first residents moved into the Pleasantville apartments, some awaiting completion of their homes. In early 1950, the first home was built. Homeowners could tailor their home to their own personal specifications. Located on Market Street, the first businesses in Pleasantville were a grocery store, dry cleaners, drug store, and barber and beauty shop. In later years, the community established gas stations, a community center, a library, elementary and junior high schools and several churches. The community center became a social gathering place and popular stop for political campaigns.
Among other influential figures, Pleasantville produced Judson W. Robinson, Jr. (1932-1990), Houston’s first African American city councilmember elected after Reconstruction, along with doctors, lawyers, politicians and business owners. Geared towards successful African American families, Pleasantville was the first master planned community of its kind in Houston in the era of segregation. (2017) |
