Brookmont, a Montgomery County neighborhood bordered by the Potomac River near Washington, occupies land once known as Brookmont Farm that was owned by The Washington Post founder Stilson Hutchins from 1877 until his death in 1912.
Now the SGA Co. and Halco Homes are building 11 luxury townhouses known as Brookes Ridge in Brookmont with four levels and views of the treetops and the river. Priced from $1.689 million to $1.939 million, the 4,000-square-foot houses have an elevator, a lower level with two bedrooms, a full bath and floor-to-ceiling windows; a two-car garage, an open floorplan on the main level with floor-to-ceiling windows and an upper level with a master bedroom suite and a second bedroom and bath.
The homes come with a rooftop deck that buyers can accessorize with an outdoor kitchen and a retractable awning. Six of the homes also have a second-level balcony.
Three of the 11 homes are already under contract.
For more information, contact realty agent Chris Wharton with Long & Foster Real Estate at 240-444-4055 or visit www.brookesridge.com.
Crown development to include farmhouse restoration
As the new planned community of Crown rises on 182 acres in Gaithersburg off Interstate 270 near the Intercounty Connector, developer Westbrook Partners is restoring the last vestiges of the former Crown Farm.
The England-Crown farmhouse, built in 1894, and two of its outbuildings are being renovated and are nearly complete. One of the outbuildings is ideal for an artist’s studio. New systems are being installed in the farmhouse, which can be customized for a buyer once it goes on the market.
Nearby in Crown West, nearly 90 homes from several builders have already been sold and in Downtown Crown multiple apartments above retail sites in mixed-use developments have been leased. When complete, Crown will have up to 2,250 residential units and 320,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. A shuttle links residents to the Shady Grove Metro station and construction soon will start on the Retreat, a health and fitness center for residents.
Downtown Crown has multiple shops and restaurants set to open in the next few months, including Ted’s Bulletin, La Madeleine, Chop’t, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Old Town Pour House, Harris Teeter, LA Fitness and Downtown Crown Wine & Beer.
Ryland Homes is selling townhouse-style condominiums, priced from the low to mid $500,000s in Downtown Crown, each with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a private garage. Each two-level townhome has a deck, a luxury master bath, an open kitchen with granite counters and maple cabinets and hardwood flooring in the kitchen, foyer and powder room.
Visit www.Ryland.com or www.SmartUrbanLiving.com for more information.
New England-style ‘bow house’ lists in Maryland
A unique New England “bow house” has hit the market in Brinklow, Md., near Olney.
The house in the Brighton Estates community is a replica of a New England bow house, a Cape Cod style with a bowed roof designed to resist the wind and let snow slide off the top.
Built in 1978, the house at 19816 Pinebark Way has new electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning systems.
Listed for $699,900, this house on three acres has hand-blown windows with 24 mullions, refinished double-wide hob-nailed pine wood flooring on the main and upper levels, three reproduction fireplaces and a screened porch.
In addition to the land that comes with this property, at the end of the street is state-owned parkland with walking trails and across the street are 200 acres of parkland owned by the Girl Scouts.
The house has a renovated kitchen, a dining room, a breakfast room, a living/family room, a first-floor bedroom or den and three bedrooms and two full baths upstairs.
The finished lower level has a recreation room, exercise room and storage space.
For more information, contact associate brokers Jamie Coley and Leigh Reed of Long & Foster Real Estate at 888-907-6643 or visit www.coleyreed.com.
Homelessness in D.C. area impacted by lack of affordable housing
The number of homeless people living in the Washington region rose by 3.5 percent from 2013 to 2014, according to the annual Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
The regional increase was primarily driven by homeless people in the District. Seven of nine local jurisdictions experienced a decrease in the number of homeless people living within their borders.
Family homelessness also rose on a regional basis by 11 percent compared to the 2013 report.
The report says, “the greatest barrier to ending homelessness in our communities is a lack of fixed, affordable permanent housing opportunities for the lowest income households.”
Strategies such as prevention, rapid re-housing and prioritizing chronically homeless people helped reduce the number of homeless people in some areas of the region.
Tip of the week
If the idea of getting organized to downsize, sell your home and move into the next property seems overwhelming, you can get free help at the “Rightsize your Life” seminar on Thursday at Fox Hill retirement community in Bethesda. The panel of experts includes:
• Realtor Alan Dalton with Re/Max, who will discuss selling your home.
• Susan Danick, founder and owner of TAD Relocation, who will discuss rightsizing possessions and finding appropriate homes for items no longer needed or wanted.
• Designer Lisa M. Bartolomei of Lisa M. Bartolomei Design, who will discuss how a transition to a new home is an opportunity to create a space that truly reflects individual style and personality.
The free seminar will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Fox Hill retirement community, 8300 Burdette Rd. in Bethesda. Light refreshments will be served and tours of model condominiums provided. RSVP to 301-968-1850 or www.foxhillresidences.com/rsvp.
Michele Lerner is a freelance writer. To pass on a tip or news item, contact us at realestate@washpost.com and put “Town Square” in the subject line.
