ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today joined Enterprise Community Development (ECD) President Janine Lind to ceremoniously break ground on Enterprise’s newest affordable housing redevelopment projects, The Vision at Parkway and The Legacy at Cedar Lane. Photos from the event can be found on the County’s Flickr webpage and video on the County Executive’s Facebook page.
Today we celebrate our next major milestone in expanding housing affordability in Howard County. Through these two transformational projects, we are providing families of varying income level access to 205 safe, secure, and affordable homes. This not only doubles the number of homes previously offered on these two sites, but also significantly furthers our affordable and attainable housing goals for Howard County. We remain committed to enhancing the quality of life for all who call Howard County home, through thoughtful planning, high-quality neighborhoods, and community engagement.
Located in Harper’s Choice and formerly known as Ranleagh Court, The Vision at Parkway is Enterprise’s second affordable housing redevelopment project to advance in recent years. The project includes the construction of a four-story, elevator-served building built to Enterprise Green Communities standards, incorporating energy-efficient HVAC systems, Energy Star appliances, and a rooftop solar array. Comprised of 82 modern apartment homes – 41 more units than its predecessor, 66 of the new units will be affordable housing and 16 will be market-rate. The community will feature one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom units designed with contemporary layouts, in-unit washers and dryers, and modern finishes. Community members will enjoy a robust suite of amenities, including a clubroom, after-school homework space, business center, fitness center, and outdoor features, such as a playground, dog park, and landscaped plaza.
Also located in Harpers Choice, The Legacy at Cedar Lane is Enterprise’s third affordable housing redevelopment project. Through this project, Enterprise will transform the former 62-unit Waverly Winds community into a 123-unit, mixed-income housing community, with 83 units affordable and 40 units at market-rate. Spread out across two, four-story buildings, each unit will be designed with an emphasis on quality and sustainability and will offer one- to four-bedroom layouts with modern finishes. Community members will also enjoy a range of amenities, including a resident lounge, business center with co-working space, fitness center, outdoor patio, and playground. Moreover, a land swap agreement with Columbia Association also further enabled the project, helping integrate the new community into the broader Columbia landscape.
Howard County has long been a place where bold ideas about community take root, and this redevelopment is no exception. We’re grateful to County Executive Ball and the Department of Housing and Community Development for their commitment to expanding access to affordable housing. Together, we’re building not just homes, but opportunities for families to thrive, for neighborhoods to grow stronger, and for Columbia’s legacy of inclusion to continue.
Since becoming County Executive, Ball has championed Enterprise’s redevelopment plan and collectively invested more than $17 million in County funds to support the nonprofit’s projects, including investing more than $15 million toward The Vision and The Legacy alone. Additionally, in 2019, Ball filed legislation to provide payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements for ECD’s five redevelopments.
With a total project cost of $47.88 million, the redevelopment of The Vision is backed by a combination of public and private financing, including tax credit equity syndicated by Enterprise’s housing credit investments, business loans from JPMorgan Chase and M&T Realty Capital Corporation, and funding from the Maryland Community Development Administration, Howard County Government, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and federal Community Project Funding. The project also benefits from long-term rental assistance for 29 units.
In 2022, Ball proposed and the County Council approved a PILOT agreement to advance the redevelopment of Ranleagh Court into The Vision. Additionally, the County has provided $5.5 million in gap financing, with $3.5 million coming from DHCD’s budget and $2 million through the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund. DHCD also leveraged a Section 108 loan from HUD for the project, which provides an additional $2.89 million through the County to lend to the project.
The Legacy has a total project cost of $64.15 million and is structured as a twin four and nine percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit transaction, with equity again syndicated by Enterprise housing credit investments. Like The Vision, The Legacy is similarly supported by tax credit equity, construction, and permanent financing from Bank of America and Bellwether Enterprise, and public funds from the Maryland Community Development Administration, the County, and HUD.
In 2023, Ball proposed and the County Council approved a PILOT agreement for the redevelopment of Waverly Winds into The Legacy. Additionally, the County has provided $4.27 million in gap financing, including $2 million from DHCD’s budget and $2.275 million through the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund. The County has also directed an additional $2.96 million to the project through the Section 108 loan program, which directs federal funds to Howard County projects.
"This event marks an important milestone and signifies the realization of a long-held vision for Columbia. Together, through the tireless efforts of Enterprise Community Development, the State of Maryland, and Howard County leadership, we've spearheaded a wave of progress resulting in transformative improvements for this community, "said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Assistant Secretary Greg Hare. "Our work has far-reaching impacts, providing exceptional housing, driving economic development, and enriching the lives of families and the entire community, while showcasing the transformative potential of bold ideas and dedicated teamwork."
Together, The Vision and The Legacy will double the number of homes previously offered on these sites, delivering 205 new apartment homes in a high-opportunity area known for its strong schools, job access, healthcare, and parks. The redevelopments will provide long-term affordability for current residents, while creating inclusive, sustainable, and accessible communities for the future. Both properties will have 100 percent visitable units and five percent will be built in compliance with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, ensuring greater mobility for residents of all abilities.
The largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the Mid-Atlantic, Enterprise procured these two housing communities, along with three others in 2017, when it acquired Community Homes Housing Inc. (CHHI).
“Community Homes Housing, Inc. is honored to continue to provide financial support to Enterprise Community Homes, as it moves forward to redevelop the five sites which we used to own in Columbia. The County’s support of the redevelopment of these two properties has allowed for the creation of two new mixed income developments which will provide tremendous housing opportunities for members of the community. The redeveloped properties will continue the impressive revitalization of the Villages of Wilde Lake and Harper’s Choice,” said Daniel Kelliher, Board President of Community Homes Housing, Inc.
The project team for both properties includes Moseley Architects and Harkins Builders, Inc., and both developments will be managed by Enterprise Residential, LLC, ensuring high-quality property management and resident services.
Enterprise’s three other affordable housing redevelopment projects include the completed Legacy at Twin Rivers (formerly Roslyn Rise) in Wilde Lake, which opened in April 2024, and future projects at Fall River Terrace in Harper’s Choice and Rideout Heath in Wilde Lake.
Enterprise is a mission-driven affordable housing provider that specializes in high-impact residential development, preservation, property management, and resident services for more than 23,000 people. An affiliate of Enterprise Community Partners, Enterprise is the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the Mid-Atlantic and the sixth largest nonprofit owner of affordable housing in the United States, with a $1.3 billion portfolio comprised of 117 communities and 13,000 homes. To learn more about Enterprise, visit www.enterprisecommunitydevelopment.org.