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.