North Post Commons

Renovated Apartments, New Apartments & Community Building

This project consisted of three essential components. The first component involved the comprehensive renovation of 104 existing one and two bedroom apartments. The second was the creation of a community center building to serve as a hub for residents. The third component comprised the addition of a new 16-unit, two-story apartment building with exceptional unit layouts and generous amenities. Since the project was funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the inclusion of substantial rehabilitation efforts on the existing buildings was essential. Through a combination of new resident programs and community enhancements that included replacing existing apartment building entrance porches with attractive and functional new porches and updating the exterior facades with new trim and color, this once marginally foreboding complex was transformed into a pleasant and desirable place to live.

Conifer Village at Cambridge

76 Unit Senior Housing Complex

The site for this distinctive project is nestled between a new townhouse project and a wildlife preserve area. The developer was interested in providing a much needed affordable senior housing apartment building in the vicinity of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This fit well within the site parameters and blended within the proposed adjacent townhome community design. The mix included 17 two-bedroom and 59 one bedroom units. This affordable apartment building was designed with Eastern Shore simplicity in mind. An inviting covered entry with rocking chairs and flower gardens welcomes the residents upon their arrival. The basic idea for the building design was an elongated L with balcony towers that provided a covered porch area for every resident. While simple in concept and layout, the 76 affordable apartment units boast numerous desirable features and amenities. Each unit includes either a covered balcony or a terrace as well as modern kitchens and bathrooms which feature accessibility as a primary design element and offer most any mature resident a warm, domestic environment reminiscent of days gone by. The public amenities include a large community room with a see thru fireplace to the library, a screened gazebo placed directly adjacent to this lovely open space, a fully equipped computer lab and exercise room, laundry facilities with adjacent lounge area, a salon and visiting doctor’s office as well as management and leasing offices. Gathering spaces are plentiful. The residents are able to be involved in numerous activities, on site and off site.

Cottage Redo

The project consists primarily of an enlarged garage, a new efficient master bath, a family room addition to the rear and a renovated kitchen space. The lot setback requirements prevented expanding to either side, therefore the addition was confined to the rear corner as an infill of the existing footprint. While the program was simple, the details and proportions work to create a balanced whole. The design evolved to help connect the new family room to the backyard. In the kitchen, most of the existing footprint remains the same, however it is enlarged enough to improve the workspace and provide an adjacent breakfast nook. The bay added to the front living room not only improves the proportions of the interior space but also greatly improves the exterior curb appeal.

Historic Carriage House I

Retail & Office Space

Originally small town retail & apartments, followed by the home of the J&B Repair Garage, housed this site in Historic Sykesville, MD. It was determined that a 7,000 sq. ft. office/retail building could fit within the parameters of the historic district guidelines. Initial concepts were developed which maintained the existing Main Street façade. However, as the project progressed, the poor condition of the existing building became evident. Together the client and the town agreed to proceed with an entirely new building for the site. It was designed to look as if it had been on the site for 100 years. The exterior material is brick and simulated wood siding with true divided lite windows. It is very much in keeping with the historic streetscape. The Owner/Contractor has chosen to relocate his corporate offices to the site and has occupied a portion of the second level tenant space. Due to the infill nature of this project, much coordination with the local jurisdictions and historic preservation agencies had to take place. On the approach to the project, one could imagine that this building has existed there as long as the Town of Sykesville.

Ten Oaks Commercial Center

Retail & Office Space

The site for this 15,500 SF retail/office building is sandwiched between Route 32 and Ten Oaks Road in Clarksville, MD. The site not having public water and sewer posed a challenge to the Owner in the area of engineering and cost efficiency. By using creative design and planning the site is self sufficient for all utilities with the exception of electric power. The design truly addresses the issues of a building having no rear so that all of the sides are attractive and access to the retail is not impeded by have all of the parking at the left and right sides of the building. The façades were intended to have a residential feel as to blend more harmoniously with the local housing subdivisions in this area. To see this type of structure being placed on this very narrow lot and providing the aesthetically pleasing facades speaks favorably for using a little creativeness to allow development in an otherwise unusable piece of property.