Mold Remediation in Columbia, MD

Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds to double the number of homes available by bringing 205 modern, affordable homes to Howard County

Waverly Winds

Enterprise Community Development, one of the largest mission-focused nonprofit affordable housing providers in the Mid-Atlantic, has closed on financing for the redevelopment of Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds, two modern, new affordable housing communities in Columbia, Maryland. These projects, which will bring 205 apartment homes to Howard County, mark a significant milestone in the nonprofit’s commitment to preserving and expanding affordable housing in Columbia, replacing aging, 1960s-era properties with high-quality, energy-efficient, mixed-income communities.

“The redevelopment of Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds reflects our deep commitment to creating sustainable, inclusive communities that provide residents with stability and opportunity,” said Janine Lind, president, Enterprise Community Development. “As the birthplace of Enterprise, Columbia embodies James Rouse’s vision of a diverse, inclusive community where all residents have access to opportunity. These new communities honor that legacy by providing modern, high-quality homes while ensuring longtime residents can remain in this sought-after neighborhood with housing that meets their current and future needs.”

Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds provide an industry-leading mixed-income model, ensuring that one-third of the homes are reserved for the lowest-income residents, one-third designated for workforce housing, and one-third offered at market rate.

Ranleagh Court

Ranleagh Court will replace a 41-unit development with 82 new apartment homes in a four-story, elevator-served building. The community will feature one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, each designed with modern finishes, in-unit washers and dryers, and contemporary layouts. Residents will have access to a clubroom, after-school homework space, business center, fitness center, and outdoor amenities including a playground, dog park and landscaped plaza. Built to Enterprise Green Communities standards, Ranleagh Court will integrate high-efficiency HVAC systems, Energy Star appliances, and a rooftop solar array to enhance sustainability. The development will also improve accessibility, with 100% of units visitable and 5% built to meet UFAS compliance standards.

The $47.88 million redevelopment is financed through a combination of public and private investment, including $21.44 million in short-term bonds from JPMorgan Chase Bank, a $13 million HUD 221(d)(4) permanent loan via M&T Realty Capital Corporation, and $13.04 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Section 45L and Investment Tax Credit equity syndicated by Enterprise’s housing credit investments business. Additional funding includes a $3 million Rental Housing Works soft loan from the Maryland Community Development Administration, a $5.5 million grant from Howard County’s Housing Opportunities Trust Fund and MIHU Fee In Lieu program, $2.8 million in loan funds through HUD’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program, $850,000 Congressionally directed Community Project Funding and project-based rental assistance contracts supporting 29 units.

Waverly Winds will replace an aging 62-unit property with a newly constructed, 123-unit community across two four-story buildings. The redevelopment will feature spacious one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, all designed with modern layouts and high-quality finishes. Residents will benefit from a range of on-site amenities, including a resident lounge, business center with co-working space, fitness center, outdoor patio, and playground. The project has been structured as a twin 4% and 9% LIHTC transaction, with equity syndicated by Enterprise’s housing credit investments business.

The $64.15 million redevelopment is financed through a combination of public and private investment, including construction loans from Bank of America of $32.24 million, permanent first mortgages from Bellwether Enterprise of $18.40 million, and additional funding from the Maryland Community Development Administration’s Housing Trust Fund and Rental Housing Works programs of $4.59 million, Howard County’s Housing Opportunities Trust Fund and MIHU Fee In Lieu programs of $4.72 million, and loans through HUD’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program of $2.96 million in collaboration with Howard County. The 4% LIHTC portion of the project will be Enterprise Green Communities certified, ensuring adherence to high environmental performance standards. The Waverly Winds 9% community, built to Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes standards, will incorporate sustainable features such as high-efficiency appliances and advanced air filtration systems to promote energy efficiency and healthy living. Both buildings will incorporate rooftop solar arrays. Waverly Winds has also been made possible through a land swap agreement with Columbia Association, further strengthening its integration into the surrounding community.

Once completed, Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds will double the number of homes previously offered by bringing 205 new apartment homes to Howard County, significantly expanding housing options in a high-opportunity area known for its excellent schools, job centers, healthcare facilities and recreational amenities. The redevelopments ensure that current residents have ongoing housing options with long-term affordability while providing an inclusive, sustainable and vibrant living environment. Both communities will be far more accessible, with 100% of units visitable and 5% built to meet UFAS compliance standards, ensuring greater mobility and accessibility for residents.

Both properties were previously owned by Community Homes Housing, Inc. (CHHI), a Howard County based nonprofit organization that provided $14 million in funding in the form of favorable seller financing and additional dollars through its affordable housing fund. Together, CHHI and Enterprise created the shared vision for transforming Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds into mixed-income, sustainable, accessible and modern communities for current and future residents.

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 Community Development 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 who call our communities home. Our $1.4 billion portfolio includes 116 communities and 14,000 homes, positioning us as the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the Mid-Atlantic and the sixth largest nonprofit owner of affordable housing in the United States. We are an affiliate of Enterprise Community Partners. For more information, visit www.enterprisecommunitydevelopment.org.

A Howard County resident who traveled outside the country contracted the measles, MD health officials said as they look for anyone exposed.

Deb Belt, Patch Staff

|Updated Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 6:01 pm ET

COLUMBIA, MD — A Howard County resident who traveled outside the U.S. contracted the measles, state health officials said Sunday. Passengers at Washington Dulles International Airport and people who went to Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department the same days as the traveler may have been exposed.

The Maryland Department of Health and Howard County health officials said a Howard County resident who recently traveled internationally tested positive for measles. The person's age, hometown and other information has not been released.

This case is not associated with the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, state health officials said. As of March 7, 198 measles cases have been reported in Texas and 10 cases confirmed in New Mexico. One death has been reported in each state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As a precaution, state of Maryland and county health officials are coordinating to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific airline flights.

Anyone who visited these locations on these dates and times may have been exposed:

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Measles symptoms typically develop 10-14 days after exposure to the virus but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears, until four days after the rash begins.

People are generally considered immune to measles if they have had two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles or laboratory evidence of immunity or infection, or were born in the United States before 1957. Those who are most at risk of complications from measles infection are pregnant women, infants less than one year old, and those who are immune compromised.

People in these at risk groups who may have potentially been exposed and are not immune should contact their health care provider or call Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284 for additional guidance.

Virginia residents with questions about their potential exposure can call the Virginia Department Health at (804) 363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov.

People, especially those not vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, who were at any of these locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure, health officials said.

Anyone who develops a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go to childcare, school, work, or out in public. Instead, they should contact their health care provider first rather than going to a waiting room or emergency room so measures can be taken to prevent spread of the highly-contagious disease.

Measles can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected individual leaves that area.

Measles cases do occur sporadically in Maryland with one case of measles identified in the state in 2024, one in 2023, and no cases from 2020-2022.

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Federal workers turned out in droves to attend a town hall meeting led by MD legislators who fielded questions about layoffs.

Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch Staff

|Updated Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 5:45 pm ET

COLUMBIA, MD — Hundreds of federal workers gathered Tuesday for a town hall meeting where they were able to ask lawmakers questions about the layoffs affecting them.

U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball were on hand at the town hall. Emily Cowie, a federal contractor, attended the town hall. She is one of nearly 327,000 federal workers who call Maryland home. There are an estimated 50,000 civil servants who call Howard County home. Cowie told WBAL she is waiting to see what happens next and is trying to preparing for any situation. She was one of 1,200 people who registered to attend the event, which ended up switching venues to accommodate the high number of participants.

There will be a business resource expo in Howard County planned for March 26 for federal workers who were let go and want assistance with entering the business world.

Howard County announced the expansion of assistance programs to help its residents who are federal workers in jeopardy of losing their jobs.

County jobs: The Howard County Office of Human Resources is working to ensure that federal employees can quickly apply for open county government positions and is working to expedite the employment application process for federal workers.

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Job search support: The Howard County Office of Workforce Development is offering additional hours for federal employees seeking career counseling, assistance with resume building and tutorials to leverage LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Call 410-313-1060 for more information.

Child care: The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks is working on ways to expand its care program for county residents, including impacted federal workers, at its before- and after-care program sites offered at 23 Howard County Public School System elementary schools. The Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services' Office of Children and Families' CARE Line is a free information and referral service for people who have questions about children in Howard County, including child care services. CARE Center staff work with families to identify their needs and help find solutions. For assistance, call 410-313-CARE or email children@howardcountymd.gov.

Food and housing assistance: Terminated or furloughed federal employees living in Howard County in need of food assistance are eligible to receive prebagged shelf staples from the Community Action Council of Howard County's Food Bank for up to three months from the date of their first visit. Supplies are limited, and proof of residency and federal photo identification will be required. After three months, households that continue to experience food insecurity can apply for full food bank access and other CAC services.

Foreclosure prevention: Federal employees who have recently lost employment and are facing unexpected financial crises and/or are behind on their mortgage payment may be eligible for the Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Program from the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development.

State and federal assistance: Impacted federal workers are encouraged to review their participation eligibility for state and federal assistance programs, including:

Transportation: Howard County is advancing a partnership with Montgomery County to expand Flash Bus Rapid Transit along the U.S. Route 29 corridor from downtown Columbia to Silver Spring. The Howard County Council approved legislation authorizing Howard County to move forward with planning for this critical service extension. The county anticipates launching the Flash extension with Montgomery County in 2026, which will provide a new public transportation option for Howard County residents and federal employees to access Silver Spring and Washington area transit services.

Mental health support: Families who may be struggling with the weight of uncertainty, fear and confusion are encouraged to call 988 to talk to someone.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Columbia|Local Event

Sat, Apr 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM

Jim Rouse Theatre and Performing Arts Center, 5460 Trumpeter Rd, Columbia, MD, 21044

More info here

The Young People’s Concert is back! Narrator Greg Jukes and Dance Connections join the Orchestra for Prokofiev’s immortal Peter and the Wolf, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Encanto, and more!

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