About Sage Foundation. – Forest Hills
Most commonly known as Forest Hills Gardens, this residential community was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and architect Grosevener Atturbury in 1909. Correspondence from the Russell Sage Foundation reveals the Olmsted firm was hired due to their interest in “the social as well as the aesthetic side of landscape gardening.” The project leaders wanted to avoid “the abhorrent rectangular block, and make [the] garden city somewhat attractive by the treatment and planting of our street.” [DE Forest Rothers to FLO Jr._1908-12-07_LOC-OAR-A-00356-im.4] Designed in an English style, the 800 single family homes were built in Tudor and Georgian architecture. The 142-acre suburb is recognized as an early example of city-planning-led design, where function and aesthetic held equal weight. Forest Hills has been well preserved and still reflects Olmsted Jr.’s original plan.