Two new affordable housing developments are open for residents in Howard County, as County Executive Calvin Ball joined Enterprise Community Development to cut the ribbon on The Vision at Parkway and Legacy at Cedar Lane.
“Howard County is consistently recognized as an exceptional place to live, work, play, grow, and raise a family,” Ball said. “However, we know that many families are being priced out of calling Howard County home. That’s why we launched the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund (HOTF) in 2021, to help meet families where they are, to help them achieve their dream of homeownership.”
Located in Columbia’s Village of Harpers Choice, The Vision at Parkway replaces Ranleagh Court, which had 41 units of affordable housing. The number of units has doubled with redevelopment, now at 82, with 66 of those listed as affordable.
Amenities for residents include a clubroom, after-school homework space, business center, fitness center, and outdoor features such as a playground, dog park, and a landscaped plaza. There are energy-efficient HVAC systems, Energy Star appliances, and a rooftop solar array. The Vision at Parkway will have 100 percent visitable units and 5 percent of the units will meet UFAS compliance standards for accessibility.
The HOTF and other funding has provided the $8 million needed to close the financing gap the project faced, ensuring The Vision at Parkway was completed. The total project cost of redevelopment is $47.88 million, including local, state, federal, and private funding.
“As we reflect on Jim Rouse’s vision for Columbia, we are committed to building a community where every resident has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home,” Ball said. “These two projects represent our profound commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive homes for the communities and the people we serve, while growing our futures, together.”
The Legacy at Cedar Lane is in the Village of Harpers Choice, replacing the former Waverly Winds community, which had 62 units of affordable housing. After redevelopment, there are 123 units of mixed-income housing, 40 units of which will be market rates and 83 of which will be affordable. There are two new four-story buildings with apartments that have one-to-four bedroom layouts. Amenities include a resident lounge, business center, fitness center, outdoor patio and playground. Here, as at The Vision at Parkway, there will be 100 percent visitable units and 5 percent of the units will meet UFAS compliance standards for accessibility.
Through the HOTF and other funding, tools, Howard County has provided more than $7 million in gap financing to support the Legacy at Cedar Lane. The redevelopment’s total cost is $64.15 million, which includes local, state, federal, and private funding.
Together, Legacy at Cedar Lane I/II and The Vision at Parkway will more than double the number of homes previously offered on these sites, delivering 205 new apartment homes in a high-opportunity area known for its strong schools, job access, healthcare, and parks.
“Vision at Parkway and Legacy at Cedar Lane mark an important milestone in our work to expand housing opportunity in Columbia, nearly doubling the number of homes at these sites while preserving affordability and creating modern, sustainable communities for current and future residents,” said Janine Lind, president of Enterprise Community Development. “We’re proud to continue investing in places so closely tied to Enterprise’s history and to carry forward James Rouse’s vision of a community where people across a range of incomes can live and thrive.”
Enterprise is in the process of redeveloping five aging affordable communities in Columbia. The completion of these two projects brings the total number of completed projects to three after the 2024 completion of Legacy at Twin Rivers (formerly Roslyn Rise), located in the Village of Wilde Lake.
“Congratulations to Enterprise Community Development on the opening of these two brand new communities in Columbia”, said DHCD Director Kelly Cimino. “It is exciting to see the County’s investment of $16 million, including $4.2 million from the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund, contribute to the creation of 149 new, affordable homes for households earning between 40 – 80% of the area median income that want to live or work in Howard County.”
