Leisure World is a census-designated place and unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is an age-restricted, gated development primarily inhabited by retirees. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 9,215. Leisure World was known as the Rossmoor census-designated place for the 2000 census.
History Development In 1963, developer Ross Cortese applied for a zoning amendment in order to build a 1,000-acre community of semi-detached homes, townhouses, and apartment buildings south of Norbeck, Maryland.Willmann, John B. "Proposed Community Seen As Area Test of Yen For Adult Togetherness: Community Proposed For Adults 52 and Over". The Washington Post. January 11, 1964. p. E1. Cortese's company had acquired the option to buy the 1,000 acres of land, formerly known as the Nash tract, for $5,000,000, and Cortese expected it would cost another $750,000 to build the development according to the plans. The development would be restricted to residents who are at least 52 years old. Cortese planned to build clubhouses, a swimming pool, riding stables, an auditorium, a shopping center, medical facilities, a hotel for guests, an 18-hole golf course, and an 8-acre lake at the site. Sixty-five percent of the area would be undeveloped green space. The entire site would be surrounded by a wall, and full-time security guards would restrict access. According to the plans, co-op homes would be available for between $15,000 and $18,000, payable with a $1,000 down payment and monthly payments thereafter of between $140 and $180. Cortese had already built Rossmoor Leisure World at Seal Beach, California, in 1961,Brooks, Dorethea M. "New Plan For Senior Citizens Includes Housing, Medical Care, Social Life". The Chicago Defender. August 5, 1961. p. 4."Project for Aged Has Health: California Unit Is Offering Drugs and Medical Care". The New York Times. August 13, 1961. p. R6. and he was then building Leisure World Laguna Hills in Laguna Hills, California, and another Leisure World in Walnut Creek, California.
The Montgomery County Council approved the zoning amendment by a vote of 3 to 1, with 3 abstentions."Retirement Age Project Endorsed". The Washington Post. June 27, 1964. p. C5."Zoning Approved in Montgomery For Norbeck Retirement Housing". The Washington Post. August 19, 1964. p. B4. The one dissenting council member was Kathryn E. Diggs, who said she was skeptical that the development would be economically successful. Local citizen groups opposed building the development because they preferred the area to remain zoned for low-density development. The council had been planning to extend Connecticut Avenue through the area, but the Council put that action on hold because of the proposed development.Kopper, Philip D. "Montgomery Council Girds For Session". The Washington Post. August 16, 1964. p. B6. Within a few months, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission approved 28,000 feet of water and sewer lines for the development."Retirement 'Village' Gets Under Way". The Washington Post. December 4, 1964. p. B4. The architecture firm of Collins & Kronstadt designed the housing units and the community buildings.Willmann, John. "Seniors Are Exclusive". The Washington Post. September 27, 1964. p. E2. Thurman D. Donavan designed the landscaping,Von Eckardt, Wolf. "Senior Citizens' 'World' A Happy Change of Pace". The Washington Post. April 24, 1966. p. G7. which received an award by the industrial landscaping committee of the American Association of Nurserymen in November 1966.Secrest, Meryle. "$60,000 In Rosy Future". The Washington Post. November 16, 1966. p. C1. A large rotating globe was installed at the front gate.
Leisure World's sales office and model homes opened in August 1965;"Leisure World To Open Office". The Washington Post. August 7, 1965. p. E10."Leisure World Open at Norbeck". The Washington Post. August 21, 1965. p. E16. Loy Sigmon was the interior designer of the original seven model homes.Wagner, Ruth. "There's a World of Leisure Here". The Washington Post. September 28, 1965. p. C2. J. Robert Conybeare served as general sales manager,"Rossmoor Names Sales Manager". The Washington Post. September 11, 1965. p. D13. and Angus T. Johnson was named the first administrator of the community."Community For After-52". The Baltimore Sun. September 12, 1965. p. G9.
The community was marketed to people who wanted to stay active while living there. While residence was restricted to people at least 52 years old (later reduced to 50 years old), proof of age was not originally required.Lanahan, Scottie. "It's All Play and No Work". The Washington Post. April 15, 1966. p. B12. Leisure World allowed people of all races to live in the community.
The community facilities were held in trust by the Foundation of Leisure World, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,"Foundation of Leisure World Inc." Exempt Organization Select Check. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved June 30, 2017."Rossmoor's To Open". The Baltimore Sun. August 22, 1965. p. RE10. with former Under Secretary of the Navy Kenneth E. BeLieu as its first president."Real Estate Notes". The New York Times. April 6, 1966. p. 67. Homes were sold as co-ops, with prices starting at $15,000 and ongoing monthly maintenance payments of at least $85.Doob, Oscar A. "Retirement Housing Proves Real Gamble". The Baltimore Sun. September 26, 1965. p. RE10. Within six months, 400 home units had been pre-sold."Plans Laid to Sell W&L Stock Block". The Washington Post. March 11, 1966. p. D7.
Shopping center Plans for Leisure World's 100,000-square-foot shopping center were announced in October 1965."Riggs Net Climbs 14%". The Washington Post. October 8, 1965. p. E7. The plan was to sell 9,200 residential units within five years, enough space for approximately 15,640 people to live.Scharfenberg, Kirk. "Suit Filed to Bar Aid to Developer Of Undersold Retirement Housing". The Washington Post. February 23, 1971. p. B1. Commercial leases were signed with Safeway, Peoples Drug Stores, Hot Shoppes cafeteria-style restaurant, and Maryland National Bank for space at the adjoining shopping center. The Interfaith Meeting House broke ground on October 22, 1965, with plans for a capacity for 500 people."Ecumenical Spirit at Work". The Washington Post. October 23, 1965. p. A17.
First residents The first residents moved in on August 15, 1965."Occupancy Set Aug. 15 At Rossmoor". The Washington Post. July 23, 1966. p. E16."Rossmoor Leisure World To Honor First Residents". The Washington Post. August 13, 1966. p. D6. The community held a welcoming ceremony at the eighteenth hole of the golf course for the first residents. The first residents lived in twelve units on Gleneagles Drive. The first nine holes of the golf course opened June 1, 1966."Leisure World Names VP". The Baltimore Sun. June 12, 1966. p. F15.
Slowdown on sales In early 1967, Leisure World changed its marketing focus from that of a retirement community to that of a country club community for adults.Willman, Jack. "Rossmoor Suspends Housing Unit Sales: Rossmoor Suspends Housing Unit Sales". The Washington Post. September 12, 1967. p. A1. Sales of units at Leisure World were suspended in September 1967 after a tight mortgage market significantly increased prices and lower than expected interest. Sales resumed on January 1, 1968."Rossmoor Plans to Reopen Sales". The Washington Post. December 30, 1967. p. C3. Sales were still slow, the developer's carrying costs on the remaining vacant land were large, and the U.S. state of Maryland had prohibited further development in the area until a new sewage treatment plant was built, all of which temporarily prevented additional construction. The developer said it would need to develop the remaining vacant land eventually, as the additional residents were needed in order to support the common facilities by way of monthly maintenance fees. In October 1974, Leisure World canceled the sales contracts for 480 semidetached homes and low-rise apartments because inflation had increased construction costs and it was no longer certain when the units would actually be built.Levy, Claudia. "Rossmoor Cancels Buyers' Contracts". The Washington Post. October 10, 1974. p. C1. Five months later, Leisure World offered the units for sale again at increased prices.Levy, Claudia. "Reoffered Contracts Costlier". The Washington Post. March 9, 1975. p. 138. In September 1976, the developer agreed to build the 300,000-gallon wastewater treatment plant."Rossmoor Plant Gets Formal Agreement". The Washington Post. September 4, 1976. p. E3. Almost one year later, the developer sued the state of Maryland, saying Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission failed to complete a 1965 contract to provide water and sewer connections to the area because the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene had ordered a halt to sewer connections in 1973.Saperstein, Saundra. "Rossmoor Developers Sue County, Others Over Building Delays". The Washington Post. September 7, 1978. p. MD3. The developer also said it was strong-armed into building a sewage treatment facility by the Montgomery County government in order to avoid significant financial losses.
John E. Byrne Jr., manager of Leisure World, agreed to buy Leisure World from Ross Cortese in August 1968, but the sale was not completed. In April 1969, Crane Company agreed to buy Leisure World from Cortese.Goodman, S. Oliver. "Crane Plans To Acquire Rossmoor". The Washington Post. April 15, 1969. p. C7. That agreement was broken four months later by mutual consent."Crane Co. Abandons Plan to Acquire Rossmoor". The Washington Post. August 14, 1969. p. H14. In February 1970, Zero Manufacturing Company agreed to buy Rossmoor Corporation, the developer of Leisure World."California Firm To Buy Rossmoor: Leisure World Communities". The Washington Post. February 10, 1970. p. D6.
Fires On March 1, 1968, there was a fire in a model two-story townhouse on Gleneagles Drive at Leisure World."Wheaton Fire Causes $100,000 In Damage". The Baltimore Sun. March 2, 1968. p. B8."Town House Block Hit by Fierce Fire". The Washington Post. March 2, 1968. p. B6. Approximately 100 firefighters reported to the fire. The fire caused damage to four townhouses, estimated at $100,000. There was one injury; Chief Sidney Bailey of Sandy Spring Fire Department was treated for burns to the eye. A fire killed a woman in her home on Chiswick Court in October 1969."Rockville Woman, 61, Dies In House Fire". The Baltimore Sun. October 27, 1969. p. C10. In May 1976, there was a fire in a three-story apartment building on Glen Eagle Drive.Barringer, Felicity. "Blaze at Leisure World Leaves 40 Homeless". The Washington Post. May 24, 1976. p. B1. One-hundred firefighters reported to the fire. The only injury was a firefighter with a broken thumb. The fire destroyed twelve homes, and those twelve families had to move in with friends and families. In November 2020, an early morning fire left one person dead and displaced 40 other residents.
Changes in plans