For most people, Greenbelt is a typical Washington, DC, suburb. However, at its heart is a federally recognized National Historic Landmark: the original portion of the city. You might think, “So what? Lots of cities and towns have historic districts.” The difference is that Greenbelt’s is only 75 years old—hardly mature enough to be considered historic. But the Prince George’s County city is unique because it was one of the federal government’s first forays into housing created under the Resettlement Administration in 1935 under authority of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. “From the beginning it was designed as a complete city, with businesses, schools, roads and facilities for recreation and town government. Greenbelt was a planned community, noted for its interior walkways, underpasses, its system of inner courtyards and one of the first mall-type shopping centers in the United States,” Read more…