 |
Melvin James Berman | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 14, 1915 |
| Died | February 20, 1996 (aged 81) |
| Resting place | California |
| Nationality | American |
| Employer(s) | Howard Research and Development, Citizens Bank, Berman Enterprises |
| Known for | Land development, co-founding Columbia, Maryland. |
| Spouse | Helene |
| Children | Stephen Lazur Berman, Dennis Lee Berman, Laurie Berman |
| Relatives | Wolford Berman |
Melvin James Berman (14 January 1915 – 20 February 1996), was a prominent land developer and real estate owner in the Washington DC area. He was instrumental in the creation of Columbia, Maryland along with his development partner James Rouse.[1]
In 1932, Melvin J. Berman moved from DeFuniak Springs, Florida near the Alabama border to Howard County.[2] While he came from wealth, the Depression convinced him to seek his own fortune up north and he hitchhiked to Baltimore, working in the dairy business for his uncle. He met his first business partner, a dairy distributor, Arthur V. Robinson soon after. Berman also partnered with his younger brother Wolford. In 1952 the assets of Highland Farm#2 "Olney Acres" became available at auction.[3] In November 1955 Robinson became a member of the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association Inc.[4] Robinson used the association money to purchase Olney Acres dairy farm in Howard County, Maryland from his partner Berman for $1,000,000.[5] Berman became his partner and they used company funds to buy additional property surrounding the farm while providing salaries to each other from the cooperative. Robinson then resold the properties to himself and his family, and resold them again to Aladdin Construction Corporation developer Joseph Martelleni, forming Hammond Village in the process. In 1961 Berman and Robinson also partnered on a second milk plant in New York.[6][7] Robinson did not have to appear in trial for fraud, because he died in a takeoff crash his twin engine aircraft from Baltimore.[8]
In 1954, Berman built the Ingleside Shopping center, from onsite offices. The Investment Corporation of Maryland purchased and developed the J Frank Gwynn farm in what would eventually become Columbia Maryland.[9][10]
In 1950, Berman started in land development, building the Laurel Shopping Center.[11][12][13][14]
- ^ "Melvin J Berman". Berman Enterprises. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ "It's all about family at Berman Enterprises". Palm Beach gardens and Jupiter Florida Weekly. 14 June 2011.
- ^ Lyon County Reporter. 6 November 1952.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Howard County Times. 16 August 2001.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Dairy Heads Buy Farm At $1 Million". The Washington Post. 3 December 1955.
- ^ "Big Dairy Plant for Oneida NY". Advance News. 22 October 1961.
- ^ Maryland Land Records book 435. p. 439.
- ^ "PARISH v. MILK PRODUCERS ASS'N". Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ "Zoning Change Granted". The Times. 31 March 1965.
- ^ "MSA Gwynn Acres". Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ "Berman Enterprises". Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ The Laurel Leader. 15 November 1956.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Arnett, Earl; Brugger, Robert J.; Papenfuse, Edward C. (1999). Maryland: A New Guide to the Old Line State. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 389. ISBN 0801859808.
- ^ "SUPERVISOR OF ASSESSMENTS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY v. MELVIN J. BERMAN, ET AL. Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. February 8, 1990". Retrieved 13 September 2013.