WRT's Orchard Ridge development recently won the Excellence in Community Development Award, "in recognition of excellence in Design and Planning and Construction," from the Home Builders Association of Maryland's Land Development Council (LDC). In its announcement of the award, the LDC noted that "this project converted a former public housing complex into an enormous market potential for northeast Baltimore."
This is the second award in the last year for the community. In October 2009, Orchard Ridge was given a WaveMaker Award for "cutting-edge new developments" by the Baltimore chapter of the Urban Land Institute at the chapter's first-annual WaveMaker Awards Ceremony.
Orchard Ridge converted a severely distressed neighborhood into a vibrant new community that offers homes to a wide range of incomes. Community input during WRT's master planning efforts for the development indicated that the residents' preference was for a townhome-style community. The resulting WRT plan created 172 two and three-story rental townhomes, and 189 two and three-story homeowner townhomes. Shared amenities include several park and playground areas, and a 5,000-SF community building. Resident parking in rear alleys preserves a neighborly connection between covered front porches and accessible sidewalks throughout the site.
