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Joseph Leopold “Joe” Eichler

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Joseph Leopold “Joe” Eichler

Birth
Manhattan, New York County, New York, USA
Death
25 Jul 1974 (aged 74)
San Mateo County, California, USA
Burial
Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Mausoleum #2, East Wall Stars 2
Memorial ID
View Source
Joseph Eichler and his wife, Lillian, became devotees of modern living in 1942 while renting a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Hillsborough, California. Inspired, Eichler left his lifelong job in business at age 44 and invested a few thousand dollars into a venture that made prefabricated small, affordable and stylish houses.

(1900–1974) was a 20th-century post-war U.S. American real estate developer known for developing distinctive residential subdivisions of Mid-Century modern style tract housing in California, United States. He was one of the influential advocates of bringing modern architecture from custom residences and large corporate buildings to general public availability. His company and developments remain in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles.

Between 1950 and 1974, Joseph Eichler's company, Eichler Homes, built over 11,000 homes in nine communities in Northern California and homes in three communities in Southern California. They all came to be known as Eichlers or an Eichler. During this period, Eichler became one of the nation's most influential builders of modern homes. The largest contiguous Eichler Homes development is 'The Highlands' in San Mateo, built between 1956 and 1964.

Unlike many developers of the post war housing boom, Joseph Eichler was a social visionary and commissioned designs primarily for middle-class Americans. One of his stated aims was to construct inclusive and diverse planned communities, ideally featuring integrated parks and community centers. Eichler, unlike most builders at the time, established a non-discrimination policy and offered homes for sale to anyone of any religion or race. In 1958, he resigned from the National Association of Home Builders when they refused to support a non-discrimination policy.
Joseph Eichler and his wife, Lillian, became devotees of modern living in 1942 while renting a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Hillsborough, California. Inspired, Eichler left his lifelong job in business at age 44 and invested a few thousand dollars into a venture that made prefabricated small, affordable and stylish houses.

(1900–1974) was a 20th-century post-war U.S. American real estate developer known for developing distinctive residential subdivisions of Mid-Century modern style tract housing in California, United States. He was one of the influential advocates of bringing modern architecture from custom residences and large corporate buildings to general public availability. His company and developments remain in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles.

Between 1950 and 1974, Joseph Eichler's company, Eichler Homes, built over 11,000 homes in nine communities in Northern California and homes in three communities in Southern California. They all came to be known as Eichlers or an Eichler. During this period, Eichler became one of the nation's most influential builders of modern homes. The largest contiguous Eichler Homes development is 'The Highlands' in San Mateo, built between 1956 and 1964.

Unlike many developers of the post war housing boom, Joseph Eichler was a social visionary and commissioned designs primarily for middle-class Americans. One of his stated aims was to construct inclusive and diverse planned communities, ideally featuring integrated parks and community centers. Eichler, unlike most builders at the time, established a non-discrimination policy and offered homes for sale to anyone of any religion or race. In 1958, he resigned from the National Association of Home Builders when they refused to support a non-discrimination policy.

Bio by: Find a Grave



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