Construction Begins at Conifer Realty's Blue Oaks in Odenton, Maryland

ROCHESTER, NY – April 26, 2024– Conifer Realty, LLC (Conifer), a nationally ranked leader in high-quality, affordable housing, today held a groundbreaking event to announce the start of construction at Blue Oaks at North Odenton, an exciting multifamily community developed in partnership with Interfaith Housing Alliance and funded in part by Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development.

Blue Oaks at North Odenton is a cornerstone redevelopment of several vacant and underutilized lots in the growing town of Odenton, Maryland. The project will provide a total of 150 units across two buildings (north and south) and will include meaningful indoor and outdoor amenity spaces for residents.

"Blue Oaks at North Odenton embodies our commitment to quality, affordable housing and community development. With partners like Interfaith Housing Alliance and Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development, we're addressing the critical need for workforce housing in Anne Arundel County,” said Sam Leone, president of Conifer Realty. “This project isn't just about buildings; it's about creating inclusive communities where families thrive. As we break ground today, we're paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future."

Total cost for the development is estimated to be approximately $44.9 million and is being financed as a public-private partnership between Conifer Realty and Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development, combining both 4% and 9% tax credits in a twinning deal. The twinning structure allows Conifer to build a larger, yet interconnected, community with more economies of scale than what is normally possible with standard financing structures.

This new five-acre community is located on Annapolis Rd. less than two minutes from the Odenton Town Center and less than 1.5 miles from the Odenton MARC stop, with easy access to Washington, DC and Baltimore. The community will offer high-quality, energy efficient housing for families of diverse economic backgrounds to live and work in Anne Arundel County.  

“We continue to face an affordable housing shortage in Anne Arundel County and across Maryland. Blue Oaks at North Odenton will provide our community with much needed workforce housing and at the same time revitalize a blighted commercial strip. It’s a wonderful addition to our area,” said Julie Hummer, Anne Arundel County Councilmember, Vice Chairman District 4.

Designed by Soto Architecture & Urban Design and project managed by Conifer-LeChase Construction, amenities will include a community room with warming kitchen and compute nook, a 24-hour fitness room, and central laundry. The exterior of the buildings will include sustainable and durable materials such as brick and cementitious siding, as well as vinyl siding. Once completed, the site will have a playground, patios, green spaces, a path to the Seven Oaks Shopping center plus forest conservation of approximately one-acre. Home amenities are anticipated to include tile flooring in bathrooms, microwaves, vinyl plank flooring in kitchen, entryway and living spaces, and keyless fob entries for units.

Buildings are designed to meet and exceed code requirements for sustainability. The 95-unit building on the north side of the site (4%) has been designed in accordance with Energy Star's Multifamily New Construction Program. The 55-unit building on the south side of the site (9%) has been designed to achieve Enterprise Green Communities certification, in addition to meeting the Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Homes Program requirements. Both buildings include super-efficient mini-split HVAC units, Energy Star windows, LED light fixtures throughout, energy-efficient appliances, and water-saving plumbing fixtures.

"This project, which we expect to complete in early 2026, is a commitment to community-building, an investment in our local workforce, and aligns with our mission to develop housing that elevates the quality of life for our residents," said Curtis Adams, Vice President of Development and project lead for Conifer.

Conifer currently owns and manages more than 1,675 apartment units in Maryland, with an additional 400 under construction.

About Conifer

Conifer Realty, LLC is a nationally ranked, full-service real estate company specializing in the development, construction, management, and ownership of high-quality, affordable housing communities. The company maintains offices in Rochester, NY, New York City, and Long Island, NY, Mount Laurel, NJ, and Columbia, MD, while expanding into new markets across the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest to fulfill the pressing need for high-quality, affordable housing. The company has developed more than 21,000 affordable housing apartments across more than 300 residential communities.

Visit www.coniferllc.com or find us on LinkedIn for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dave Lanzillo

Director, Marketing + Communications

David.Lanzillo@coniferllc.com