Land Development Council 2003 Project Award of Excellence Entry
Every renaissance has a beginning point and the start of Essex-Middle
River?s transformation back into a vibrant, economically stable region
may be tracked to the launch and success of WaterView?a new American
town which broke ground in January of 2002.
WaterView is the
largest revitalization project ever undertaken in Baltimore
County. More than $50 million in private dollars will be invested
in this waterfront village which serves as the cornerstone of Baltimore
County?s efforts to bring new energy to an area that had seen its
economy in decline since the 1970s.
The community sits on the
site of what once was one of Essex-Middle River?s most blighted
areas: the crime-ridden 65-acre Riverdale Apartment complex in
the 1800 block of Eastern Boulevard.
Comprised of 1,140 units,
Riverdale was built in 1943 to house workers primarily employed by the
Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company. This rental community -- like
others in the area affected by the economic downturn -- became a
lightening rod for trouble. The county, intent on reversing the
regional deterioration, took action. They relocated residents,
boarded up the buildings, fenced in the area and began seeking a
developer with the vision and sense of social commitment to help create
a better future.
Bids from five well-known developers were
reviewed by a selection committee whose members consisted of several
Baltimore County department heads, representatives from the Middlesex
Civic Association and Essex-Middle River-White Marsh Chamber of
Commerce as well as a representative from the American Society of
Landscape Architects, Maryland Chapter.
WaterView Joint Venture LLC
was the team?s unanimous choice for transforming the Riverdale property
into a showcase for successful redevelopment. It is a
collaborative effort between two local real estate powerhouses: The Mark Building Company, headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, and Enterprise Homes, Inc. which is based in downtown Baltimore.
The Mark Building Company,
one of the top homebuilders in the Baltimore/Washington region, is
charged with the residential portion of the construction and is a firm
with an earned reputation for its craftsmanship, attention to detail
and high construction standards.
Company President Lawrence I. Rosenberg,
who also is managing partner for WaterView Joint Venture, is a
fourth-generation homebuilder born and bred in Baltimore County. His
value system is centered on creating a good quality of life for
homebuyers and he is intent on building communities, not just a
succession of homes.
For years, Mark Building has been honored
by its peers via the Home Builders Association of Maryland.
Earlier this year it captured awards in many categories in the sales
and marketing awards competition for its WaterView designs, including
the coveted ?Most Outstanding Homes in its Price Range."
Other
awards of recent vintage won by The Mark Building Company include the
fall 2002 Visionary Award given by the Baltimore County Department of
Economic Development and a Golden Achievement Award for Service presented by Quality Builders Warranty, a division of Liberty Mutual, in January of 2002.
WaterView
Company
president Larry Rosenberg has been singularly honored for his vision
and commitment to the communities he has served. This summer, he
was recognized by the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County for
his support of the group?s annual fireworks fundraiser (WaterView has
been the title sponsor for the past two years). In January of
this year he was presented with the 2002 Visionary Award from the
Essex-Middle River-White Marsh Chamber of Commerce in recognition of
his role in bringing new vitality to the region and serving as a role
model for others to invest in the area as well.
Enterprise Homes,
Inc., the other joint venture partner in WaterView, was established by
the late real estate visionary and philanthropist James W. Rouse in
1985. Enterprise has continued in the Rouse tradition by
developing new communities in the Mid-Atlantic region that reflect the
Rouse value system also shared by Mark Building. Enterprise Homes is
affiliated with Enterprise Real Estate Services, which assisted in the
development of The Avenue in White Marsh.
WaterView partners had specific goals as set forth in the County?s RFP:
Creation
of a distinctive, high-quality community in terms of superior site
planning, architectural design and construction materials;
Creation
of a neighborhood of single-family, detached housing that is of a
quality and value that would quickly attract middle income families and
individuals;
Creation of a community commercial center that is
part of the overall neighborhood design and serves both the new
development and the nearby communities;
Assemblage of adjacent commercial properties incorporated into the overall design and proposal;
Reinforcement
of the County?s efforts to capitalize on the nearby waterfront by
maximizing visual and physical connections to Middle River;
Enhancement
of the stability and viability of the surrounding communities by
providing accessible amenities and complementary designs;
Enhancement of water quality in Middle River.
Perhaps most challenging was the goal of creating a community of such grand-scale success it would create a Pied Piper effect encouraging others to invest in the area as well.
WaterView Joint Venture?s mission centered on building a new community from the rubble of the Riverdale apartments. The 65-acre tract is bordered by Eastern Boulevard, Orville Road and Middle River. WaterView is a planned neighborhood of 175 single-family, detached homes, a 96,000 SF adjacent WaterView Town Center built and anchored by local favorite, Mars Supermarkets, a large community park and several smaller neighborhood parks. Incorporated into the overall redevelopment plan was the existing, four-acre Riverdale Village Shopping Center.
