Residential Real Estate : Development News

After several months of delay construction has finally begun on Turner Development's Westport Waterfront. Workers have started the first phase of public improvements for the $1.2 billion, 50-acre transit-oriented, mixed-use development, located on Baltimore's Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, including construction of a living shoreline

"I'm very pleased that we've been able to come up with the financing and are finally able to begin work on this project," says Patrick Turner, president of Turner Development Group.

Monies awarded by the Maryland Department of the Environment, a total of $620,500 in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus) funding, will be a portion of the funding used to reconstruct the shoreline and create the waterfront tidal wetlands

The intertidal wetland project will include the installation of an environmental cap and wetland sill as well as a floating boom to minimize floating debris in the wetland. Once the wetland reconstruction is underway, construction of new utilities, roads, landscaping and bike paths will commence in the spring of 2010. Construction of a luxury apartment building by the Landex Companies will begin a year later in 2011.

"The shoreline reconstruction is the first step in making 25 acres of the Westport Waterfront site ready for building construction," says Turner. Our master plan goes beyond a traditional mixed-use community. We're targeting platinum certification under the US Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development program and the soft shoreline will enhance our efforts." wetland along approximately 900 linear feet of the Patapsco River.

The wetland reconstruction is part of Turner and Baltimore City's strategy to restore the ecology of the Middle Branch, which is home to abundant populations of fish, birds and other wildlife but has suffered from degradation due to decades of industrial development. Restored wetlands improve water quality by filtering contaminants while also providing important habitat for juvenile fish that provide food for larger fish and birds. Wetland restoration in the Middle Branch is a key priority of Baltimore City as it focuses on the redevelopment of the Middle Branch watershed as Baltimore's "green harbor." Turner is planning additional wetland areas in Phase II of his project as part of the development's overall green infrastructure.

Although the recession meant it took a little longer than originally expected to raise the money to start the project, Turner says he expects the project to continue without any additional delays.

"[Now that we've begun] we expect the project to continue to develop. We've still got some hurdles to get through because it's a very complicated financing mechanism to do these types of projects. There are hurdles to get over but every time we accomplish one the next one is easier. The first one is always the most difficult, so as we progress it gets easier," he explains.

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company will act as construction manager for the shoreline reconstruction, wetland installation and infrastructure construction.

Source: Patrick Turner, Turner Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

East Baltimore Development Inc. (EBDI) has picked Allen & O'Hara Development Co, a subsidiary of Education Realty Trust (ERT) to design, develop and manage graduate student housing for nursing students, medical students and fellows from the adjacent Johns Hopkins Medical Institute (JHMI) and other students from Universities in close proximity to the new housing.

Though Johns Hopkins University currently provides limited housing for the graduate students on the medical center campus, the state-of-the-art 20-story high-rise apartment building will house the more than 4,000 students currently enrolled at the JHMI schools will be the primary residents of the new state of the art 20-story, high-rise apartment community. A portion of the current housing will be taken out of service when the new project opens.

"Education Realty Trust and its subsidiaries are delighted to have been chosen to execute all the aspects of this graduate student housing project for the prestigious Johns Hopkins Medical Institute," says Tom Trubiana, Chief Investment Officer for ERT. "Being an integral part of the major urban re-development project untaken by EBDI is very exciting and gratifying as well. It requires a significant amount of collaboration and cooperation to develop quality housing at affordable rents. We couldn't be more pleased with the efforts of all of our partners to make this project a reality."

The graduate student housing project is just one component in the EBDI's 88-acre urban redevelopment that will include 1.1 million square feet of life science technology space, 400,000 square feet of office and retail space, 2,100 mixed income housing units, parking and a seven-acre campus with a pre-kindergarten to eighth grade public school. The Graduate Housing Project will be located at the corner of Ashland Avenue and North Wolfe Street, across from a three-acre open green space park.

The graduate student high-rise will include 321 apartments (572 beds) in a unit mix of primarily 1-bedroom/1-bath, 2- bedroom/2-bath and efficiency units in proportion to indicated demand levels. The project will also feature various amenities for residents including a green roof for socializing and gathering, a fitness center, as well as meeting and study rooms. The units will have hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, along with washers and dryers in each unit and high speed internet access linked directly into the University computer system. Allen & O'Hara will seek LEED's Silver certification for the project.

Allen & O'Hara has selected Marks, Thomas Architects as the lead firm on the architecture and design of the project, and Clark Residential as the general contractor. Both companies have extensive experience in the development of projects in the Baltimore area. Local developer, The Otis Warren Company, has been chosen to assist Allen & O'Hara in the development process. Site entitlements have been obtained, design is well underway and construction is scheduled to begin in June 2010 for a June 2012 opening.

Commencement of construction is subject to execution of final definitive agreements and the ability to securing acceptable financing from several options that are currently being evaluated.

Source: Education Realty Trust
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) recently announced financing of the North Creek Run development in Cecil County and the Perryman Station project in Harford County. The developments will provide much-needed affordable housing in an area expecting an influx of working families through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

"These developments great examples of how federal, state and local collaboration can revitalize communities and expand affordable housing options for Maryland's hardworking families and seniors," said Secretary Richard A. Skinner. "They also are a boost to the area's labor pool with the creation of an estimated 107 jobs."

Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) allows state housing finance agencies such as DHCD to resume funding affordable rental housing projects while stimulating job creation in the hard-hit construction industry. TCAP provides grant funding for capital investment in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects through a formula-based allocation to DHCD.

The North Creek Run project financing includes a Bank of America construction-to-permanent mortgage of $2.1 million. DHCD provided $821,050 of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which raised equity of $5.4 million through PNC Bank. DHCD also provided $3 million in Tax Credit Assistance Program loan funds and a $132,500 Maryland Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability Grant (MEEHA).

The development, located on Stony Run Creek Road, includes a garden apartment building with eight one-bedroom apartments and 45 two-story family townhouse rental units. The property also will contain a community room, exercise center and computer room. Units will be available for families with incomes between 30 percent and 60 percent of the Area Median Income or $15,600 to $46,080 for a four-person household.

The Perryman Station, located on Perryman Road, project involves the new construction of a senior residential community. The property will consist of 80 units in 3-story apartment buildings, including 37 one-bedroom and 43 two-bedroom units. The units will be available for households with at least one resident being 62 years or older with incomes at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) or $19,700 to $39,420 for a two-person household.

Project financing includes a first mortgage from Bank of America, N.A. for $3,126,900, a $270,643 HOME Loan from Harford County, a $3 million Loan under the ARRA Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP), and a $200,000 Grant through the Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability Program (MEEHA). DHCD also provided more than $816,000 in Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which raised about $5.7 million in private equity through Bank of America, N.A.

The developer and owner of the project are Stavrou Associates, Inc. and Rellim Development, LLC. The property will be professionally managed by HAI Management, Inc. d/b/a Humphrey Management. The general contractor is Hamel Builders Inc.

Follow the DHCD on Twitter and Facebook.

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake has officially opened their new offices in Halethorpe.

"We welcome Habitat for Humanity to Baltimore County, not only for the jobs they bring here, but for the positive change they bring to the hundreds of families and communities that benefit from their work," says County Executive Jim Smith.

The nonprofit housing organization recently combined its Anne Arundel and Baltimore facilities, and brings 38 full time employees, two VISTA members and eleven AmeriCorps members to its new home in Baltimore County. With the move, Habitat is more than tripling the size of its offices, leasing 38,000 square feet of office space on Commerce Drive in Baltimore County's Southwest Enterprise Zone. The nearby presence of the Maryland Food Bank's headquarters was a positive factor in the choice of the Halethorpe location.

"Our new offices allow us to better serve our homeowner families, volunteers and community service partners," says Mike Mitchell, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake.

More than 270 families live in homes built or renovated by Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, which has served Baltimore and Anne Arundel County communities since 1982.

Source: Habitat for Humanity
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore Housing has received $5.8 million from Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

As part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Congress created NSP to assist communities in the revitalization of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development will operate the program through local nonprofit organizations that will use the NSP funds to acquire and rehabilitate the properties and will then either rent or sell the properties to low-income families.

"This support from the Federal government is what neighborhoods hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis need as a life line," says Mayor Sheila Dixon. "The country is not out of its financial crisis yet, and any aid from the federal government is truly appreciated."

Baltimore Housing received $1,675,000 from DHCD and $4,112,239 from HUD. The funds will be used to support vital affordable housing initiatives. Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake and St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center will purchase and rehabilitate approximately 50 single-family buildings that have been subject to foreclosure. Empire Homes and People Encouraging People will use the funds to develop approximately 50 rental units.

"These developers have proven to be great partners in our commitment to creating affordable housing for Baltimore residents," says Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano. "This is the help that our neighborhoods so desperately need to move from frustration to revitalization."

Source: Housing Authority of Baltimore
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Two affordable rental housing projects in Anne Arundel and Howard Counties are the first in the state to benefit from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP). The Admiral Oaks Apartments project is the acquisition and rehabilitation of eighteen 3-story garden apartment buildings located on the west side of the city of Annapolis. The Sierra Woods project involves the acquisition and rehabilitation of 160 units located in Columbia.

"These projects are vital to our commitment to preserving and growing the number quality affordable housing units for Maryland's hardworking families. TCAP loans are important to helping us and our project partners do that," says Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Raymond A. Skinner. "In addition, HUD's support is beneficial in creating much needed construction jobs." The Admiral Oaks project is estimated to create 72 jobs while the Sierra Woods is expected to support the creation of 46 jobs.

Funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), HUD's Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) allows state housing finance agencies like DHCD to resume funding affordable rental housing projects while stimulating job creation in the hard-hit construction industry. TCAP provides grant funding for capital investment in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects through a formula-based allocation to DHCD.

The rehabilitated Admiral Oaks property, located on the 400 block of Captains Circle, will consist of 104 two-bedroom units, 43 three-bedroom units and 12 four-bedroom units. The property will also contain a new community room and updated management offices. Units will be available for families with incomes between 30 percent and 60 percent of the Area Median Income or between $24,650 and $49,250 for a four person household.

The project financing includes a permanent mortgage of $7.8 million and Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity of $10.7 million through Bank of America. The equity was raised from the sale of $1.4 million of LIHTCs awarded by DHCD to the project. DHCD also provided $1.16 million in Rental Housing Program and $737,000 in Tax Credit Assistance Program loan funds.

The developer/owner of the project is Community Housing and Preservation Corporation of Washington, DC. The property will be professionally managed by Edgewood Management Corporation. The general contractor is Hamel Builders Inc and the architect is Wiencek & Associates.

The Sierra Woods property was originally built in 1973 and consists of two non-contiguous parcels containing four garden-style apartment buildings and eight townhouse buildings on 11.5 acres. The project will be the preservation of a mix of units including 28 one-bedroom apartments, 75 two-bedroom apartments, 39 three-bedroom townhomes, 16 four-bedroom townhomes, one leasing office, and one maintenance supervisor's unit. The proposed rehabilitation will allow the property to remain competitive in the market while preserving 32 project-based Section 8 units. One hundred eleven units will be targeted to serve families with household incomes at or below 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) or $39,420 for a two-person household.

The project received financing from a number of sources. DHCD provided a first mortgage of $7,605,000 from the proceeds of tax exempt bonds, a Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) loan in the amount of $900,000; and $408,196 in Low Income Housing Tax Credit that raised equity in the amount of $3,223,502. Other sources included a $50,000 Green grant from Enterprise Partners and a $250,000 Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability grant (MEEHA) funded by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA)

MEEHA provides grants for energy audits and the purchase and installation of equipment and materials for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in affordable multifamily rental housing. The program is an ongoing partnership between the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Energy Administration and is part of Governor Martin O'Malley's emPOWER Maryland initiative, which aims to reduce the state's energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.

The developer and owner of the Sierra Woods project is Enterprise Housing Corporation. The property will be professionally managed by Habitat America. The general contractor is Harkins Builders Inc.

Admiral Oaks and Sierra Woods are just some of the ARRA funded projects DHCD has undertaken that incorporate Smart, Green & Growing components. The rehabilitation of both projects will support local community revitalization efforts in areas served by public transportation and near employment centers. Energy efficiency improvements will include the installation of new Energy Star appliances and HVAC systems. Additional energy efficient building components include Energy Star replacement windows, site lighting and additional insulation to increase the energy efficiency of the units and reduce the projects' carbon footprints.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development works with partners to finance housing opportunities and revitalize great places for Maryland citizens to live, work and prosper. To learn more about DHCD programs, log on to www.mdhousing.org.

News updates also are available by following DHCD on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City's (HABC) has received $66 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. Included in the funds are $32.7 million awarded for capital improvements and an additional $33.4 million in grants under ARRA's highly competitive Capital Fund Recovery Competition (CFRC). The monies have been allocated use by public housing authorities across the country to redevelop distressed public housing and eliminate blight. HABC will use the stimulus funds to renovate some 240 dilapidated scattered sites and 30 conventional public housing units located around Baltimore.

"We are excited that the Obama Administration recognized Baltimore's need with these economic recovery dollars to renovate existing public housing stock," said Mayor Sheila Dixon. "Through these restoration efforts, we will be able to offer more affordable, quality housing to our residents in need."

The funds also will enable HABC to make a few environmentally friendly improvements energy consumption measures in these sites and in the public housing developments. The agency will be able to replace inefficient lighting with compact fluorescent lighting, replace existing flapper style toilets with low flow models and install flow limiting fixtures and devices in bathrooms and kitchens. The project also entails installing tenant metering to measure resident energy consumption as well as improving the local controls for heating within the individual units

Combined with investments for the Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD), the proposed renovations will serve to reinvigorate neighborhoods that have been neglected for many years and are anticipated to attract significant private interest. The ongoing investment is expected to create a vibrant mixed-income neighborhood that will provide households of all income levels, but particularly those of low and moderate income the chance to build wealth through improved employment, education and homeownership opportunities.

The scattered site units selected are long-term vacant units that will be fully renovated to meet both historical restoration guidelines, where applicable, and energy efficiency construction.

"Without the ARRA funds, these scattered site units, would remain dilapidated and unoccupied," Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano says. "The funds will greatly help HABC's endeavor to bring these units back into productive use, provide affordable housing to our residents, and reinvigorate distressed neighborhoods."

Source: Housing Authority of Baltimore City
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore's Neighborhood Housing Services has received $26,640 from NeighborWorks America, to support its foreclosure prevention efforts in Maryland. The funds will enable them to provide more foreclosure counseling to struggling homeowners.

"The number of foreclosure clients coming through our doors has increased drastically over the last year. We receive between 20 and 40 calls a day from homeowners facing foreclosure," says Tanya Washington, chief operating Oofficer, NHS of Baltimore, "Meeting the surging demand has been a challenge and we have had to do more with less. This grant will allow us to increase our staff's capacity to handle a larger volume of clients."

The NFMC award comes on the tail of an award NHS of Baltimore received from the State of Maryland this August, also aimed at ramping up the organization's foreclosure prevention efforts. This year, NHS of Baltimore accepted $70,000 from the State of Maryland, a $30,000 increase from its usual annual award. The state's decision to step-up the organization's funding was based on annual numbers they reported, which demonstrated a vast rise in clients seeking foreclosure prevention services.  

As is the case with the rest of the country, Maryland is dealing with record foreclosures statewide. NHS of Baltimore works to combat these foreclosures through counseling and loss mitigation practices that provide budgeting, saving and credit counseling, as well as negotiating sustainable loan modifications with the homeowner's lender if possible. The service's counselors have secured a positive outcome for homeowners in need 73% of the time, be it through delinquency counseling or through a loan modification.

Source: Tanya Washington, NHS of Baltimore
Writer. Walaika Haskins

Baltimore County has been awarded a $4 million grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation received the funding for the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Program to create lead-safe, healthy, energy-efficient homes in Baltimore County.

"For decades, childhood lead poisoning has tragically impacted the lives of children and communities in Baltimore County. he Office of Community Conservation will use these funds to pursue its goal of ending childhood lead poisoning in the County. I'm pleased to announce that Baltimore County was the sole jurisdiction in the State of Maryland to receive this grant. I also want to thank Senator Barbara Mikulski for her support with this important funding," says Smith.

The Lead Hazard Reduction Program will provide lead inspections/risk assessment of 350 homesin targeted area communities in Baltimore County for lead-based paint and healthy homes hazards; perform lead hazard control (including window replacements) in 300 homes; conduct 150 outreach and education events to reach at least 16,500 citizens; and provide lead worker certification and Green and Healthy Homes training to 30 individuals. Effectively immediately, the demonstration program will run for three years.

"Lead poisoning from old paint is a parent's worst nightmare. It's practically invisible in your home, but its effects can be devastating. I'm so proud this grant will be used to create lead-safe, healthy homes in Baltimore County," Senator Mikulski says. "This funding will help protect kids from lead exposure and make a real difference for Baltimore County's families."

Baltimore County is partnering with other Baltimore County departments, including the Department of Health, the Department of Permits and Inspections and the Department of Social Services, as well as the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning.

"This strong network of partners will be invaluable in identifying older, lower income properties where children reside and pose the most danger to our community," says Baltimore County Chair Joseph Bartenfelder.

Source: Jim Smith, Baltimore County
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Developers in Baltimore came together last Thursday to celebrate their own. The Baltimore District Council of The Urban Land Institute  hosted the first annual WaveMaker Awards event at the Legg Mason Tower in Inner Harbor East. The awards were given to developers whose local projects are unique, innovative, and visionary; the seven WaveMaker recipients were honored alongside the national ULI's Heritage Award Winner, Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Earlier this year, ULI Headquarters honored Baltimore's Inner Harbor with its prestigious Heritage Award. The award is bestowed periodically on developments that have demonstrated industry excellence and made substantial contributions to their community's well-being for at least 25 years. Only eight developments have been selected to recieve the prestigious award in the past 35 years.

"Through the redevelopment of 192 acres of dilapidated and abandoned waterfront property, the Baltimore Inner Harbor catalyzed reinvestment in Baltimore -- supporting more than 50,000 new jobs, generating $60 million in new tax revenue, and generating a $4 billion tourism industry that was previously non-existent. The harbor now stands as the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world," states the national selection

The ULI Baltimore also recognized the seven recent local projects that demonstrate industry excellence with the WaveMaker Award.

These projects are respectful of their surrounding neighborhood, economy, history, geography, and local government, and provide strong economic returns to stakeholders. The WaveMakers  were able to stretch the boundaries of what was considered possible and accelerate sustainable, prosperous development in Baltimore.

"ULI Baltimore is excited to build on the Heritage Award presented to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The WaveMaker Award is an excellent opportunity to acknowledge the developers and projects that are shaping Baltimore's skyline," notes ULI Baltimore Chair, Caroline G. Moore.

The 2009 WaveMakers are:

Miller's Court, 2601 N. Howard St., Seawall Development Company

Silo Point, 1200 Steuart St., Turner Development Group

Legg Mason Tower, 100 International Dr., H&S Properties Development Corp.

Fairfield Inn by Marriott, 101 S. President St., Summit Associates LLC/A&R Development Corp.

Towns at Orchard Ridge, 4020 Maple Ridge Dr., Pennrose Properties/Doracon Development LLC

Baltimore Medical System's Highlandtown Healthy Living Center, 3700 Fleet Street, Highlandtown Development, LLC

American Brewery, 1701 N. Gay Street, Humanim

Turner Development has signed a $40 million deal with Landex Development, LLC to purchase land that will used for an aparment development at the Westport Waterfront.

Westport Waterfront is a $1.2 billion, 50-acre transit-oriented, mixed- use development located on Baltimore's Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. The 1.07 acre Parcel L is located on the newly created John Moale Boulevard at the southern end of the Westport Waterfront site just a block from the Light Rail station.

Landex plans to build a luxury apartment building as part of Westport Waterfront's first phase of development. Accordin to the architectural plans the building will be six stories with a glass fa�ade, LEED certified with 200 apartments featuring balconies and terraces with views of the waterfront and surrounding parks. The spacious, contemporary apartments will have a variety of suite layouts and will include secured underground parking with concierge services. Construction on this site is slated to begin by the 4^th quarter of 2010.

"The Westport Waterfront offers very strong market potential", says Peter Siegel, CEO of Landex Development."Its proximity to rail and highway transportation as well as the availability of outdoor recreation activities such as biking, walking trails and kayaking at the front door make it a very desirable location for professionals looking to combine beautiful living space with outdoor activities and easy access to Washington and Baltimore. "Landex is very excited about collaborating with Patrick Turner and helping to implement his vision for the Westport Waterfront Master Plan."

Westport Waterfront is on the forefront of sustainable "green" design. The project is presently the only neighborhood development on the East Coast seeking LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) platinum designation. The Maryland Board of Public Works recently voted to award more than $800,000 to aid with the development Westport's wetlands.

"Landex is exactly the kind of partner that we want to bring to Westport Waterfront � an experienced developer that takes a holistic approach to housing, neighborhoods and communities," says Patrick Turner, president of Turner Development. "Their design mandate that the building must be attractive, contemporary and sustainable over the long term fits our vision for Westport Waterfront."

Source: Patrick Turner, Turner Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake (HHC) kicked off its largest project in Baltimore to date building nine homes for area residents. The nine modular (pre-fabricated) homes will occupy the 2400 block of Fayette Street, between N. Montford Avenue and N. Port Street.

"Building a community of Habitat families is what we seek to do. The empty lot gave us the opportunity to build with nine Habitat families right next to one another to help enhance the community on Fayette Street," says Mike Mitchell, HHC CEO.

It will take some 800 volunteers nine days to complete the new  two-story rowhomes. The speedy construction of these modular homes in Baltimore is a first for the nonprofit org, which helps provide affordable housing to low-income residents. The prefab housing costs the nonprofit some 25 percent less than building them the traditional way - from scratch. Volunteers that include Baltimore Gas & Electric and Constellation Energy employees will assist with and complete tasks including painting, fencing, siding, landscaping, carpentry, floor installation and other tasks.

Although the homes have been pre-fabricated in a factory, HHC was able to reclaim a lot that was pre-wired and with plumbing. There is a bus line right outside the door. And, the modular's are air-sealed which means no leaking of heat or air-conditioning

"They should be completed by early October. Then October 17, there will be a dedication ceremony and Rally Event at Patterson Park starting at 3:00 pm. The Rally will serve a dual purpose in formally announcing the merge of Arundel Habitat and Chesapeake Habitat to form Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake and the dedication of the nine new homes and the nine families receiving their keys to those homes," says Desiree Wingo, director of Community Engagement.

Once these homes have been completed, the organization has several other projects, though admittedly less ambitious, on its drawing board.

"One particular project starting around the first of the year is on Clay Street [in Annapolis] in a public housing complex. This housing complex has been demolished and will be re-built with 10-14 homes being built with Habitat volunteers and the future homeowners," explains Matt Metzger, construction director.


Source: Habitat for Humanity of the Cheasapeake
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Two Baltimore-based developers have recieved some $400,000 each in grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD issued a$400,0000 grant to CSI Support and Development Services and another worth $393,150 to Associated Catholic Charities (ACC) to cover pre-development expenses. Developers have 18 months to use the funds.

According to Renee Johnson, director of Media and Public Relations at ACC the money will be used to help build a new senior living center.

Source: Renee Johnson, ACC
Writer: Walaika Haskins

What's cooler than green? Green and customized.

East Baltimore Development Inc. (EBDI) has put a dozen "green" rehab homes on the market that will be designed in myriad ways by the new owner at the point of sale. The homes, located on E. Chase and McDonough Streets on EBDI's 80-acre development site, are effectively shells of existing homes that have been thoroughly stabilized (with "green" lumber, of course) and are a blank slate ready to be built to suit the homeowner's specifications within about three months.

Stroll through the model home at 1714 E. Chase Street and you'll feel like a kid in a candy shop when presented with the available amenities. Among the possible features are granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, skylights, recessed lighting, whirlpools, hardwood floors, and carpet.

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the homes is that the load-bearing walls are all external, so buyers can choose where to put interior walls. That means the homes can have as many or as few rooms as the owner would like. This design flexibility can also help buyers keep the price down, as simpler floor plans will be less expensive. The 12 homes are as small as 1,000 square feet and as large as 2,200 square feet, and can range in price from the high $100Ks to the mid $200Ks.

"It's difficult to use conventional standards to describe these homes," says Dennis Miller, EBDI vice president for real estate development. "From the outside you think these are wonderful, beautiful Federal-style homes from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but when you walk inside you find an urban dwelling unit that has amenities of any new house built today. It's a great blend of the old and the new."

The "green" components are also extensive. The homes -- which use formaldehyde-free building materials and VOC-free paints, sealants and adhesives -- incorporate windows, appliances, lighting fixtures and roofing materials that meet Energy-Star rated home standards. They also feature tankless water heaters, foam or cellulose insulation, and state-of-the-art caulking practices around windows, doors and penetrations. Buyers can upgrade to solar thermal water heating system and a solar electrical system.

"What we're offering is the opportunity to live in the city, closer to your place of employment and places of entertainment, and have a home that's cheaper to maintain with the amenities and qualities you're accustomed to enjoying in the suburbs and other areas," says Miller. Moreover, he says, EBDI's long-term plans to invest in the surrounding neighborhood are a virtual guarantee that the homes won't lose value.

More information on EBDI's green rehabs is available from sales manager Patrice Fulcott at (410) 234-0660 x 238

Source: Dennis Miller, EBDI
Writer: Lucy Ament

Baltimore-based A&R Development has just put on the sales block the first residential new construction to be sold on the 80-acre campus being redeveloped by East Baltimore Development Inc. The five row houses constitute the first of 49 that will be built under the Townes at Eagar banner.

A&R bills the homes as having "timeless architectural lines with a contemporary urban flair" and is promoting their proximity to the Science and Technology Park, the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus and the Kennedy Krieger Institute, just two blocks away.

The exteriors feature brick fa�ade, bay windows, contemporary designs, built-in garages, professional landscaping, balconies and white, reflective TPO roofing, while the interiors boast two-to-three bedrooms, 2.5-to-3.5 baths, open floor plans, walk-in closets, high ceilings, designer light fixtures and a choice of more than 20 shades of Mohawk carpet. Buyers may also choose form more than a dozen upgrade features, including hardwood floors, modern granite countertops, stainless steel GE appliances, crown- and chair moulding, an intercom system and wireless security systems.

What makes these homes so unusual, according to A&R's Feras Qumseya is their size vis-�-vis the typical city residence. They run from 1,765 to 2,638 square feet and include attached garages.

"These are humongous units that you really don't find, even brand new, in the Baltimore area," Qumseya says. "We are using urban and modern styles to really accommodate the young and professional lifestyle."

Prices start in the low 200's. A&R's marketing center for the Townes at Eagar is located at 855 N. Wolfe, and additional information is available at the Web site.

Source: Feras Qumseya, A&R Development
Writer: Lucy Ament