Renaissance Square

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1625 Old Eastern Ave
Essex, MD 21221
www.renaissancesq.com

A new housing development is springing up in Essex at 1625 Old Eastern Ave. which boasts energy efficiency and the ability to own for less than renting. Renaissance Square, a project of the Mark Building Company and Enterprise Homes, Inc., features green building at its finest. The builders are following guidelines from the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, the first national framework for green affordable housing, according to an article published in Multi-Housing News. The communitys web site, www.renaissancesq.com, says it consists of affordable homes designed to maximize livability and minimize the cost of ownership. The community will be hosting a Grand Opening for the second phase of building on April 30, which Larry Rosenberg explained will be a day of events with a cookout and the companys lender, developer and community development organization all present. Prospective buyers can meet with people to find out what owning a home will be like, and grab a burger at the same time, Rosenberg said. The radio station Magic 95 will also be there. Planning for the community started about five years ago and the first phase of construction began between February and July 2009, according to Rosenberg, president of the Mark Building Company. Since then, he said, the project has received four major awards. The Cottage and Manor home models were each awarded Max Awards for Best Livability from the Home Builders Association of Maryland. The Maryland Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council also gave the project the Evergreen Award for excellence in green building and the Land Development Council presented it with an award for Outstanding Community Development of the Year in Maryland. In addition, the community is partnered with Energy Star to add to their energy efficiency standards. The houses are both energy efficient and sustainable, Rosenberg said. The homes are built luxuriously, but with higher energy standards for lower cost, Rosenberg said. He explained that average monthly energy costs are just $68 for the townhomes and $122 for the single homes. The Mark Building Company has been building in the Baltimore area since 1983 and in the Middle River area for the last 11 years, according to Rosenberg. He said several other projects are also in the planning phases for eastern Baltimore County, but they generally only build in one place at a time. We focus on the wants and needs of the people in the community, Rosenberg said. We make sure there are amenities in the area, like parks and transit, and the homes are built to the highest energy standards available. Rosenberg explained that even waste from construction sites, like wood, drywall and metal, is separated and recycled. I take a lot of pride in what we do, he said. Although the Grand Opening event isnt until April 30, the sales center is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone interested in more information or a tour of a model home can call the sales office at 410-780-6006, visit the web site or just visit the office in person.