Lexington, Kentucky developer, builder, & realtor Morris Levy was a significant shaper of the Bluegrass landscape.
Born in Kiev before the turn of the century, Levy immigrated to Cincinnati before finding work in Lexington as a tailor. By the 1920s, he was immersed in Bluegrass real estate. In 1949, his company, Morris Levy & Son, boasted it had built more than 600 houses in 33 years. Company ads touted the firm’s ability to obtain desirable lots and deliver economical homes speedily.
Building for a growing middle class, Levy’s staff drafted their own or purchased plans from companies like Better Homes & Gardens. Most of these homes, in Chevy Chase, Ashland Park, & beyond, still stand due to their sturdy construction & classic American style.
The ever-popular ranch and colonial styles dominated the Levy offerings but some homes included modest French Revival or Tudor detailing. These homes typically stood one or one & a half stories and were constructed of brick or Bedford stone.
Ads enumerated the modern features of the homes & built-in decorative details, emphasizing the all-inclusive, “move-in ready” appeal. Some Levy homes even came complete with “screens, storm-doors, shrubs, & landscaping” for under $15,000. In today’s market, the average Levy home might sell for a half a million dollars due to desirable locations & enduring aesthetic appeal.
Morris Levy was as active a community member as a builder, serving on the first Blue-Grass Airport board & giving of his time to various causes. Levy was a longtime member of the Temple Adath Israel, a Mason, Shriner, and Kiwanis Club member. In his later years, Levy retired to Coral Gables, Florida. When he passed away in 1961, he was buried alongside first wife Rachel “Rae” Greenburg Levy in The Lexington Cemetery.
Resources: Photos & quotes via ExploreUKY archives at University of Kentucky Libraries & The Lexington Herald-Leader
