In driving around the City recently, you may have spotted a number of construction areas and public hearing notices.
Here’s an update on some of the projects that have piqued your curiosity:
Visitation Academy
For nearly two hundred years, the Visitation Academy operated as a private, all-girls Catholic school. In 2016, due to low enrollment and rising costs, the academy was forced to close its gates. In June 2017, the 3-acre site was bought by O2J Visitation LLC, - a joint business venture by James O'Hare and Lance Jaccard of Annapolis and Washington D.C., respectively, and both well-experienced in adaptive reuse projects.
On October 14, 2019, the project received two site plan approvals at the City’s Planning Commission meeting — allowing for the property to be divided into three lots. One lot will feature a 62-room boutique hotel, complete with 42 valet parking spaces, a bridal suite, a restaurant and bar, meeting space, a fitness center, shops, and a salon.
The remaining lots will provide 30+ multi-family residential units.
Common Market
Common Market is opening a second location at 927 West 7th Street in the former Safeway Location at College Park Plaza. Renovations are currently taking place on both the exterior and interior of the building, guided by Bates Architects and Waynesboro Construction. Common Market plans to open the doors in Spring 2020— offering a full service grocery store, café and in house bakery.
Learn more about Common Market.
Ox Fibre Apartments
The historic structure — Ox Fibre Brush Company factory building —- located at 400 E Church Street is slated to undergo an extensive renovation and restoration. Developed by Hook Properties, Equity Plus, and Broad Creek Capital, the project will provide approximately 80 loft style apartments that will serve as workforce housing for the community. The project has secured both tax credit support and Opportunity Zone investment.
Veterans Center
A joint venture between Platoon 22 & Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, Inc., a new veterans center will fill part of a 40,000 SF building to be constructed off Monocacy Boulevard -- and provide services including job training & placement help, counseling, mental & physical health assistance, transportation services, financial education, and help with benefits & housing for our country's veterans. St. John Properties’ new complex will also house a Goodwill store and the company’s administrative offices.
Suburu Training Facility
St. John Properties, Inc. is wrapping up the development of a new 16,200 square foot custom-tailored training facility for Subaru of America, Inc. within Riverside Technology Park. The new training center, which will integrate a blended learning approach consisting of classrooms and hands-on vehicle instruction, will be large enough to provide instruction for up to 60 teachers and students on any given day.
Sharpe’s Square
Sharpe Square is a partnership between Buckeye Development, Pax Edwards LLC and the State of Maryland’s Community Development Administration (CDA). The four story mixed-use project located at 820 Motter Avenue will consist of 86 senior affordable residential units and 9,333 square feet of 1st floor, street-facing commercial space. Estimated delivery – Summer 2020.
The Bottling Plant
Substantial work has been completed on the new project at the Former Coca-Cola bottling factory on North Market Street at the edge of Downtown Frederick. When completed, the mixed-use adaptive reuse project will feature 85 new apartments and almost 10,000 SF of commercial space. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2020.