The team at Vanguard sees incredible potential for the development site and the amenities that their property design could provide to the community. They are also grateful for their dedicated supporters who see the potential for a dynamic, multi-use village that offers recreational, living and career opportunities, enhances the area’s sense of community and preserves the surrounding natural environment. Their detailed and thoughtfully deliberate plans for an all-encompassing property to live, work and play offers immeasurable benefits to residents of Baltimore County and beyond. The developers will continue in their efforts to deliver an innovative, multi-use property to the community of Bare Hills.

“While Vanguard is disappointed with the outcome, we are not discouraged,” said Len Weinberg, Principal of Vanguard, “we are grateful for the many supporters of our development initiatives as well as members of the community who are willing to participate in ongoing discussions and provide open and honest feedback.”

The site of the property also includes a variety of shops including The Kellogg Collection, Mary Kay’s Furniture LLC, The Mitre Box, Indulgence 2 and The Falls Road Running Store as well as Hollins Organic Products. These tenants will all remain open until the site is ready for redevelopment. The development team at Bluestem is looking forward to collaborating with their neighbors as they work towards breaking ground on a community-centric property that will serve local residents while protecting the flora and fauna of the nearby Lake Roland Park.

To learn more about locally-minded construction and retail development company Vanguard, contact our passionate team by visiting our website today. 

Vanguard Equities

Since 1987, Vanguard has been at the forefront of retail real estate development in the Mid-Atlantic region, creating, building and managing its portfolio of successful projects with national and local tenants. Vanguard offers national and local clients a full range of retail development services and as well as acquisition and joint venture opportunities.

Bluestem

Bluestem is a proposed mixed-use project that will include retail, dining and a multi-family residential building on six acres at 6241 through 6247 Falls Road in the Bare Hills community. The primary design objective of this development is to promote an interconnected village concept with a distinctive town character.  Bluestem is adjacent to Lake Roland, a tremendous natural resource for the region and a source of shared interest for the surrounding communities. The proposed plan includes a point of entry to the park, meeting the community’s demand for the creation of a mixed-use village with a focus on the park.

Where Will the New Access Point Be?

The new access point will be constructed at the back-end of the Bluestem development. A gate will be constructed that allows Bluestem residents and Bare Hills community members access to the “Orange” trail within Lake Roland park. Current park regulations will still apply, and only pedestrian traffic will be allowed access to the Orange trail. Bikes and motorized recreational equipment will still be strictly forbidden.

The Benefits of the New Access Point

This new access point will provide a more convenient entrance to the Orange trail, replacing the current outdated entrance. It will also provide an additional access point for the “Red” trail via the Orange trail, which will help to ease congestion and parking concerns at the Greenspring entrance to the Red trail. This trail will also give park-goers access to view the beautiful and unique serpentine ecosystem, which will heighten awareness and appreciation of this valuable and rare habitat.

Will Bluestem Be Building on Park Property?

The Bluestem development will not be constructed on any park property. The access point will simply consist of a gate built on the parcel Bluestem purchased. Bluestem will not be developing any roads, trails or other infrastructure on or within Lake Roland park property. In fact, Bluestem has made a commitment to construct the development much closer to Falls Road than originally planned as to ensure there is a sufficient forested buffer between the development and park property. This will help to ensure that the park’s integrity and natural landscape is maintained.

How Will the Serpentine Ecosystem Be Protected?

The developers have made several purposeful decisions to ensure Lake Roland’s delicate and unique ecosystem remains unaffected—and even enhanced—by the Bluestem development. The Bluestem developers have spent extensive time studying the microclimates that exist within the park, including the serpentine barren areas that surround the Orange trail within Lake Roland park. Because Lake Roland is one of only four remaining areas in Maryland with a naturally-occurring serpentine barren, a prairie-like grassland area existing on dry, nutrient-poor soil and rock, the Bluestem developers feel strongly about maintaining its integrity in every way possible.

One of the biggest ways Bluestem has committed to the preservation of this delicate habitat is by maintaining an open dialogue with park staff about the removal of the invasive Virginia Pine, which has crowded out the prairie grasses that would naturally inhabit the unique serpentine areas of Lake Roland. They have also maintained an open line of communication with the Lake Roland Nature Council to discuss the possibility of new park trails that circumvent the most vulnerable regions of serpentine barren.

The Bluestem development team is also comprised of specialists who have both worked on Lake Roland Park projects in the past and have a specialized knowledge of the region’s flora and fauna. This includes Human & Rohde as well as Plusen Landscape Architects. With their insight, and in collaboration with park officials, a variety of solutions for preserving the serpentine barren region have been suggested, including boardwalk-style paths similar to the path Human & Rohde created to link the park with the MTA station and signage that explains the delicate nature of the serpentine and how park-goers can best traverse the area to preserve its integrity.

How Else Has Bluestem Chosen to Maintain an Environmentally-Friendly Design for the Development?

Whether through the thoughtful planning of the new access point that will link Bluestem with the Orange trail, or the myriad other ways Bluestem has chosen to maintain an environmentally conscious design, the Bare Hills community should be assured that this development will serve as a positive example of how smart and thoughtful development can make positive impacts on natural spaces. To learn more about Bluestem’s commitment to environmental preservation, click here.

Vanguard is at the forefront of the Bluestem project as the project’s lead development firm since 2014. The firm is responsible for assembling a team of experts from a variety of companies to make the project a reality. Most importantly, Vanguard is working to ensure the Bluestem development is environmentally friendly, locally developed, community focused and innovatively designed, in keeping with the development’s brand themes.

Vanguard is excited to be spearheading the Bluestem project and looks forward to improving the local community. To learn more about Bluestem’s commitment to current infrastructure and community concerns, click here. To learn more about Bluestem’s focus on local development, click here.

Trends Show Both Millennials and Baby Boomers are Slow to Buy Single Family Homes

Baby boomers are perhaps the most populous and financially secure age group in the nation, as such, they tend to dictate economical trends in real estate. These current trends show that, on a national scale, the most drastic changes in the renting population came from those aged 55 and older with an increase of 28% in renters. This is compared to the trends of renters aged 34 or younger, up by only 3%. Additionally, it is expected that more than five million boomers will rent their next home in 2020 as opposed to buying a smaller, detached home.

Current trends are also demonstrating that millennials are slow to buy houses, with many preferring to rent in an urban or suburban setting as their preferred living arrangement. This leads to the issue of a massive retreat of baby boomers away from their single family homes and towards luxury apartment complexes, and no millennials to buy these homes, as they seem to prefer the convenience of renting a living space as well.

The rise of “surban” living, which blends favorable characteristics from suburban and urban communities, also has great appeal to Millennials and Baby Boomers alike. Surban communities are characterized by mixed-use developments that provide a variety of entertainment options, boutique-style shopping, local fare and pedestrian-friendly accessibility. A recent Urban Land Institute (ULI) report indicates that surban areas are projected to attract the most U.S. households in the next decade. Besides providing amenity-rich and walkable living spaces, surban areas are also characterized by high-performing school systems and low crime rates, making them ideal for Millennials with young families and Baby Boomers seeking to age in place.  

Modern Multifamily Communities are Amenity-Rich

Our older generation is currently making real estate moves that are typically expected of young professionals looking for modern apartments near their workplace. Why are these changes in the renter profile occuring? It is noteworthy to recognize the hassle-free environment that an amenity-rich, luxury apartment complex can offer in suburban areas.

Perhaps the most significant reason that both downsizing baby-boomers and suburban-bound millennials are attracted to multifamily housing is the combination of luxury and affordability. Millennials are shown to prefer the low-maintenance lifestyle of renting an apartment rather than taking on the burden of a mortgage, especially if they are less financially-stable in the early stages of their careers. Boomers seem to be attracted to the convenience of a rented apartment in addition to the wealth of amenities, such as swimming pools and fully equipped fitness rooms, offered in most luxury apartment communities.

Because many modern multifamily housing facilities have the option to come fully-furnished (or at least force a downsizing of the boomer’s previously more product laden lifestyle), and include the convenience of free repairs, boomers looking to downsize seem to prefer the accessible environment of modern apartment complexes. There is also a trend sweeping the millennial generation to spend more money on experiences rather than things—another reason that the “hands-free” feel of renting an apartment seems so alluring to young professionals.

Baltimore County is Slow to Compete with Surrounding Areas

The current renting trend affects Baltimore County because of the area’s lack of modern multifamily housing compared to the growth of multifamily housing in thriving suburban areas such as Columbia, Bethesda and Annapolis. However, there is significant room in the area for more complexes as the population continues to demand them.

One of the most notable multifamily housing facilities in Baltimore County is the Palisades of Towson, an apartment complex that has helped spark retail revitalization in the downtown Towson area. Baltimore County is also behind in its development of luxury apartment complexes compared to Baltimore City and its successful complexes such as Rotunda, the The Fox Building and Remington Row. The quick prosperity of these complexes exhibits both the desire for and need of additional multifamily housing units in the Baltimore County area.

How is Multifamily Housing an Asset to the Community?

Baby boomers want to remain in their community—but, since downsizing to a smaller home can often prove complicated and burdensome to those close to retirement, who are  craving the stability of a stress-free living environment. With more multifamily housing facilities for rent in the Baltimore County area, there will be more opportunities for our large population of boomers to remain in their community and downsize in a less complicated, and more cost-effective, way.

Overall, the numbers do not lie: between 2009-2015, about 2.5 million senior households transitioned from homeowners to renters nationwide, joining the vast population of millennials renting in apartment complexes. As both individuals and families in the two largest populations in Baltimore County continue to choose apartments over houses, it is time for more development of multifamily housing in the community.