Laurel Homes Historic District

Laurel Homes Historic District is a residential area in Cincinnati's West End containing about 30 buildings across 34 acres. The structures sit between Liberty Street, John Street, Ezzard Charles Drive, and Linn Street, forming a cohesive housing community with connected street patterns.

The district was built in 1938 as one of the nation's largest federally funded housing projects during the Depression era. Its creation reflected a major shift in how government approached the housing crisis facing American families at that time.

The district reflects a moment when housing policy began to challenge residential separation, bringing families of different backgrounds into close proximity. Walking through, you notice how the architecture reinforces this original intent with shared community spaces and unified street frontages.

The area is straightforward to explore on foot with a regular street grid that makes navigation easy. Most buildings are visible from public streets, allowing visitors to appreciate the architecture and community design without restriction.

Frederick W. Garber, a respected architect who had previously designed the Woolworth Building in Kentucky, led the design of these homes. His involvement brought polished architectural standards to what might have otherwise been a more utilitarian housing project.