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St. Mary's Opens Workforce Housing Project to the Public

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St. Mary's Opens Workforce Housing Project to the Public

GREAT MILLS - 4/25/2008

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By Staff Writer Pete Hurrey

After 12 years of planning and numerous construction and design changes, the first of its kind, St Mary’s County’s Workforce Housing project is ready for new homeowners.

The Gateways opened two short weeks ago with 42 one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums priced for lower income working families and individuals.

According to Dennis Nicholson, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County, “The facility is situated right across the parking lot from the J. Patrick Jarboe Childcare facility.” He indicated that the original plan in 1996 was for a single building with childcare on the first floor and housing on the second.

The affordably priced condominium homes, located off Great Mills Road on Lexwood Drive, is centrally located and with walking distance of Great Mills High School, an elementary school and shopping.

“It’s wonderful that people can live in a great place and be able to not worry about transportation,” said Mary Lynn Stone, a Century 21 New Millennium broker brought in to market the units. She went on to say that transportation is a concern in Southern Maryland and is needed many times in order to take care of everyday needs.



Nicholson took The Bay Net on a tour of some model units and explained that the construction is very good, well insulated, and spacious, something not seen in most workforce housing. “There is a revolutionary hot water and heating system, as well,” explained Nicholson. The system is a gas fueled combination system that uses hot water from the hot water heater to feed the furnace system, saving residents a lot of money for heat.

The Housing Authority has priced the units so as to be accessible by many who otherwise would not be able to afford a home of their own. “We are looking for working residents that earn 50 percent of the median income for St. Mary’s County,” Nicholson said.

Steve Combs, one of the preferred lenders and Regional Vice President with First County Mortgage, LLC stated, “Affordability is a major concern for many home seekers in today’s market and it’s great to see well priced opportunities available here in St Marys County. Couple that with the many grant programs and assistance available to numerous prospective buyers and we truly have an amazing value and opportunity for those seeking home ownership.”

After being open only two weeks, Nicholson told The Bay Net that the first homeowner moved in just a couple of days ago. Based on the enthusiastic prospective homebuyers on the day of the interview, one might conclude that the units will be going fast. For more information, contact Century 21 New Millennium at 301-862-2169.

News Feedback NOTE: Views expressed below do not reflect the views or opinions of The Bay Net, Bay Media Services, Inc. or the employees of Bay Media Services, Inc.

Comment On This Story!

Joebagel Not Logged In 4/25/2008 at 10:58 AM
How is it going to work?
They want people who earn 50% of the median income but are still charding 150k-over 200k for each place?
Reply to This Comment
petehurrey Not Logged In 4/25/2008 at 2:15 PM
Reply to Joebagel: How does it work
There are assistance programs in place to help with everything from down payments and closing costs to subsidies. Visit and talk with the people at the facility to learn more.
X-Fusion Not Logged In 4/25/2008 at 2:49 PM
Reply to Joebagel: Well
Don't forget the twelve gas lines that run thru the bottom rear apartments that feed all the other apartments with gas. If a fire happens in one of this paper-thin walls and catches one of those gas lines, watch a big boom happen.
Dennis Anderson Construction (who handled the building) did a good job on the building, but the architech that designed it left out alot of major features. Gas line routing, overhangs, correct measurements, etc etc.
phinfan Not Logged In 4/25/2008 at 7:19 PM
Reply to Joebagel: Doesn't make sense
You're right Joebagel..I have a 140k loan w/great apr and the PITI is about $1100 a month! No, not an interest only loan and I only make 50k a year!! I'm actually BUYING my home..it will be interesting to see how this all turns out...
spud123 Not Logged In 4/25/2008 at 11:52 AM
Not true
I looked into these apartments a month ago. They aren't affordable. Your looking at $159,000 to buy a 1 bedroom apartment, and the cost goes up from there. What the county and state do not realize is that there is a significant portion of the population down here that a $500 a month rent or mortgage payment is a stretch, you figure the costs of the utilities, cars, insurance, and everything else that comes with life. That means you get a part time job to make ends meet, and that part time job adds to your yearly salary, and now you dont qualify for subsidized rental units anymore. It is a total scam. And since St. Mary's County, along with Charles and Calvert, are doing everything in their power to stop new apartments from coming in, and new properties for persons on very limited budgets, there is no place around here to live. I find it very funny that the local government has said they do not want low income persons living in the tri county area, that they officially hide using environment impact studies and new laws allowing only 1 house per 3 acres, and another local law outlining new family plots must be 3 acres in size, and must have their own storm water management system, thanks for increasing the mosquito population. The trailer parks are being forced out, no new apartments, property prices way beyond any reasonable reach, is there any discrimination going on here?
Reply to This Comment
DD2000 Not Logged In 4/25/2008 at 6:48 PM
That's because
they're going to let the rest of us who bust our rears everyday cover the rest of the tab. I mean, what else should our tax dollars be used for anyways???
Reply to This Comment


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