Lake Arbor, Maryland
| Lake Arbor, Maryland | |
|---|---|
| Census-designated place | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 38°54′30″N 76°49′46″W / 38.90833°N 76.82944°WCoordinates: 38°54′30″N 76°49′46″W / 38.90833°N 76.82944°W | |
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |
 Maryland
|
| County |  Prince George's |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km2) |
| • Land | 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 9,776 |
| • Density | 3,100/sq mi (1,200/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Code | 20721 & 20774 |
| FIPS code | 24-44817 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1852596 |
Lake Arbor is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,776 at the 2010 census. It is one of the nation's most affluent African-American communities. The ZIP Codes encompassing the CDP area are 20721 and 20774.
Lake Arbor was originally known as Newbridge, a development of Levitt & Sons, developers of the early planned communities of Levittown in Pennsylvania and Long Island, New York, respectively. When the project went bankrupt in the mid-1970s after selling only 41 houses, Manufacturer's Hanover Trust acquired the debt and held it as REO (real estate owned) for approximately 10 years until a limited partnership composed of David A. Gitlitz, Alvin Dworman, Phillip Abrahms, Phillip D. Winn, and Gary S. Lachman acquired it. Under the direction of Gitlitz, and with technical engineering assistance from Abrahms, Lachman changed the name of the property to Lake Arbor and developed it into the master planned community it is today.
The story of Lake Arbor is emblematic of the socio-economic and demographic evolution of Prince George's County that occurred in the mid-1980s. Against the strong resistance of many large national builders who perceived Prince George’s County as a price-sensitive retreat for urban African Americans who neither wanted nor could afford upscale amenities for their homes, Gary S. Lachman contractually required features like two-car garages, brick, and elaborate landscaping from builders who purchased lots in this community. To the pleasant surprise of the builders, buyers rushed to embrace (and pay for) these features. Firmly demonstrating both the sophisticated tastes and buying power of the predominantly African American market, as well as codifying architectural standards requested (but not mandated) by county executives such as Winnie Kelly and Governor Parris Glendening, Lake Arbor established Prince George’s County as the most desirable destination for young, affluent African American families moving from Washington, DC for a suburban lifestyle.
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