Banning Homes (demolished) – San Pedro CA

Description

In 1942-43, the federal government constructed five temporary wartime defense housing projects operated by the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA) under the Lanham Act of 1940 for $13.5 million. Considered one of the largest in San Pedro, Banning Homes was built by the Federal Public Housing Authority (FPHA) for war workers in the San Pedro harbor area in 1943. With the military and the United States Housing Authority (USHA) merging housing efforts into the FPHA as the U.S. entered World War II in early 1942, Banning Homes was partially started as a New Deal project.

Banning Homes, half a mile away from the San Pedro shipyards, was dedicated in November 1942 and completed in April 1943. The 156.54-acre development was made up of 219 scattered gypsum buildings comprising 2,000 total dormitory units for a maximum of 7,000 war workers. The 1,488 two-room units included a furnished living room, bedroom, shower and toilet. The other 512 units were one-room dormitories which included shared cooking, shower and toilet facilities.

The housing project included an administration building, recreation building, and auditorium. There were also utility buildings for washing and storage throughout the development, in addition to community stores and buildings such as a hospital ward and drug store.

The other four wartime housing projects were: Dana Strand Village, Normont Terrace, Channel Heights, and Wilmington Hall. In 1946, plans were made to dispose of these temporary projects. 

Banning Homes was demolished and the land was auctioned by the federal government in 1959.