J. C. Nichols
| Jesse Clyde "J.C." Nichols | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | August 23, 1880 Olathe, Kansas |
| Died | February 16, 1950 |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation | real estate developer |
Jesse Clyde Nichols (August 23, 1880 - February 16, 1950), better known as J. C. Nichols, was an American developer of commercial and residential real estate in Kansas City. He was born in Olathe, Kansas, attended the University of Kansas and Harvard University. His most notable developments are the Country Club District and Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, which influenced suburban developments in other parts of the United States. He served leadership roles in local and national real estate and organizations. Through these organizations, his ideas about real estate and planning helped to shape methods for restrictive covenants and zoning.
Jesse Clyde Nichols was born in 1880, a son of farmers living near Olathe, Kansas. He worked various jobs while attending high school, and worked for a year after graduation selling wholesale meat. While he matriculated at the University of Kansas, he managed the college football team, reported for a newspaper, and served as class president. Graduating at the top of his class with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902, he accepted a one-year scholarship at Harvard University, and earned a second Bachelor of Arts degree there in 1903. Nichols returned to Kansas City and joined some college friends to establish Reed, Nichols & Company, operating as real estate developers. In 1905, he married Jessie Miller, a woman from Olathe, Kansas.
Nichols called his method for establishing residential subdivisions "planning for permanence," for his objective was to "develop whole residential neighborhoods that would attract an element of people who desired a better way of life, a nicer place to live and would be willing to work in order to keep it better." His philosophy about subdivision planning greatly influenced other developments in the United States, including Beverly Hills and the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, as well as Highland Park, Texas and the River Oaks neighborhood in Houston, Texas.
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