Capital-Gazette
July 31, 2007

By NICOLE YOUNG, Staff Writer

Last night, Annapolis Housing Authority officials announced plans to renovate the interiors and exteriors of many of the homes in Bowman Court and Annapolis Gardens, upgrading the landscaping and adding several security features to the property.

"Bowman Court is in a much more deteriorated condition," said Judith Siegel of Landover-based Landex of Maryland, Inc., which has been hired to develop the plans for revitalizing the two properties. "It's very harsh and very bare. We need to get rid of all that hard-packed earth."

Home to about 150 residents, the concept plan for Bowman Court and Annapolis Gardens combines the two communities to create 144 rental units and six home ownership units. It also improves the outside lighting, relocates and spreads out the recreation area and basketball court, expands the community center and moves the leasing center to Croll Drive, making the entrance a focal point.

Many of these features will increase the security and safety of the residents, Ms. Siegel said. Fences and security cameras also are being considered.

"I think it's a win-win package all around," said Trudy McFall, who after stepping down from her post as a commissioner on the board will serve as a volunteer advisor for the redevelopment projects.

These two properties are the latest in the string of those the housing authority is hoping to revitalize.

In January, College Creek Terrace and Obery Court were announced as the first housing authority properties to be rehabbed, integrating a mix of home ownership and rental opportunities, and eventually turning over the property management to the private sector.

Plans for the communities just off Clay Street include as many as 60 senior apartments, 51 additional homes and 85 additional parking spaces.

The Clay Street Revitalization Committee unanimously selected the conceptual plan for the 164 units at Obery Court and College Creek Terrace - the two properties are in the worst shape of 10 managed by the authority.

Eric Brown, executive director for the housing authority, said the work on Bowman Court and Annapolis Gardens won't be as extensive as the work in Obery Court and College Creek Terrace.

Built in 1940, College Creek Terrace is the nation's oldest low-income public housing building still in operation. Due to its historical significance to the African-American community, officials decided they would not demolish the property, but gut and rehabilitate it.

Obery Court, however, will be completely razed and rebuilt. Built in 1952, the development has fallen into such severe disrepair that officials said it would be more cost-effective to demolish it and rebuild using "green" building principles.

Pennrose Properties LLC, of Baltimore, will be handling the development of the Clay Street communities, with work on Phase One to begin in about a year, city officials hope.

The first phase of the College Creek Terrance and Obery Court redevelopment will include 50 rental units along Clay Street and 10 home ownership units on Clay Street near Pleasant Street. A community center also will be built at the corner of Clay and Obery and 44 on-street parking spaces will be added.