Greendale along with, Greenbelt, Maryland and Greenhills, Ohio, is one of three government sponsored "greenbelt" communities built as part of the Resettlement Administration under Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration. Greendale was chosen due to its proximity to a major city (Milwaukee) and had to have enough space to develop a village center for shops, a community center and offices. Homes would be built around the center for ease of walking.