"The colonial and Tudor-style houses date, for the most part, to before World War I, when no expense was spared to build homes that were comfortable enough to lure properous buyers seeking to escape Manhattan's growing congestion. Lots generally are 50 by 100 feet or larger and many houses have five or more bedrooms. Albon Platt Man, a Manhattan lawyer, developed the area with one main purpose in mind: to create a garden spot for people weary of city life. He built about 300 houses and sold them for $8,000 to $20,000.  Buyers could also get lots for 50 cents to $1.25 a square foot on which to custom build - as long as the house was substantial and not too close to its neighbor and met other restrictions."