Bethesda and Rockville may have been the dominant areas for commercial and residential growth in Montgomery County for decades, but several areas in the upper county are beginning to compete for development. Residential growth has spread from the close-in Washington suburbs along the Interstate 270 corridor linking the District with Frederick County to the north.
The Metro system extends as far as the Shady Grove station north of Rockville, and MARC trains traverse the upper section of Montgomery County to Frederick.
Residential development in upper Montgomery County centers around the town of Clarksburg, where several planned communities with recreational amenities and family-oriented activities are being built.
At Clarksburg Town Center, a Newland Communities development, Miller and Smith LLC, Bozzuto Homes Inc. and Porten Homes are building in a community with condominiums, town homes and single-family homes. The community has a resident’s intranet, and neighbors can enjoy a swimming pool, a resident’s club with a fitness room, an activities director, pocket parks, tot lots and walking trails. Planned amenities include a retail center, a library and tennis courts. The homes range in price from the upper $200,000s for condominiums to the mid-$400,000s for town homes and the low $500,000s for single-family homes. Call 301/515-8200 or go to www.clarksburgmaryland.com.
Greentree Homes, Craftstar Homes Inc., Ryan Homes, Winchester Homes Inc., Michael Harris Homes, and Craftmark Homes Inc. are building at Clarksburg Village, a planned community with a swimming pool, community center, ballpark, tot lots and jogging paths.
This 775-acre community is 25 percent open space, with more than half the homes adjacent to green space. Plans call for a retail park and elementary schools to be built within the community. Single-family homes from Ryan, Winchester, Michael Harris and Craftmark are priced from the $450,000s to the upper $600,000s; town homes from Craftstar and Greentree are priced from the $360,000s to the low $400,000s. Call 301/591-0769 for Winchester; 240/686-0443 for Ryan; 301/515-1180 for Michael Harris; 301/528-5106 for Craftmark; 240/686-1843 for Craftstar; and 301/540-7570 for Greentree or go to www.clarksburgvillage.com.
At Arora Hills, 290 acres of parkland adds green space to a planned community with exercise paths, a clubhouse, tot lots and two swimming pools. The development has streams passing through and is within walking distance of the Ovid Hazen Wells Park, which has ball fields, picnic pavilions, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and trails.
Arora Hills is within minutes of shopping areas, commuter routes and a MARC train station, and it includes single-family homes and town homes from Beazer Homes Corp., K. Hovnanian Homes and Ryan Homes. Town homes are priced from the mid-$300,000s to the $400,000s, while single-family homes are priced from the $450,000s to the upper $500,000s. Call 301/540-7529 for Beazer’s single-family homes; 301/528-5462 for Beazer’s town homes; 240/686-0111 for K. Hovnanian’s single-family homes; 301/972-5636 for K. Hovnanian’s town homes; and 301/515-4697 for Ryan’s single-family homes, or go to www.arorahills.com.
In addition to the larger planned communities in upper Montgomery County, smaller residential developments are also under construction near Clarksburg.
Craftmark Homes is building 43 single-family homes on half-acre sites at Park Ridge in Clarksburg, close to parks, shopping malls and public transportation. These brick-front homes have four or five bedrooms, two to four full baths and a two- or three-car side-entry garage. Additional features include high ceilings; a masonry fireplace; luxury master bath; hardwood flooring in the foyer, kitchen, breakfast area and powder room; oak stairs; moldings; and 42-inch wood cabinets and Corian counters in the center-island kitchen. The homes are priced from the low $800,000s. Call 301/916-8235 or go to www.craftmarkhomes.com.
At Grace Farm, Craftmark Homes is building single-family homes on 2-acre sites within walking distance of Ovid Hazen Wells Park. These four- to six-bedroom homes have 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 baths and are priced from $1,100,000. Call 301/916-8235 or go to www.craftmarkhomes.com.
Miller and Smith is building town homes and single-family homes at Woodcrest in Clarksburg, a residential enclave adjacent to Little Bennett Regional Park, with walking and biking trails, a picnic pavilion and a children’s play area. The single-family homes have four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a front porch and a two-car garage.
The town homes have three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a detached two-car garage. These homes have an enclosed private courtyard and a master suite that covers the entire second level. The town homes are base priced from $399,990 and the single family homes are priced from $499,990 and $549,990. Call 240/686-1975 or visit www.millerandsmith.com.
Many of the homes Toll Brothers Inc. is building at the Meadows at Hurley Ridge in Clarksburg have views of Little Seneca Creek. These brick-front town homes, priced from the middle to upper $400,000s, have three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a two-car garage. The kitchens have granite counters, and buyers can add a loft level. Call 240/686-1200 or go to www.tollbrothers.com.
Nearby in Boyds, Pulte Homes is building single-family homes at Summerfield Crossing. The community includes open spaces for picnics and tot lots and is near Black Hills Regional Park and commuter routes. The single-family homes, priced from the low to upper $700,000s, have four bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and a two-car garage. Call 240/686-0268 or go to www.pulte.com.
Several developments are also under way in Germantown.
Mitchell and Best Homes is building 26 single-family homes on 2-acre or larger wooded sites at Long Meadows at Davis Mill in Germantown, a gated community with a private park, walking paths and extensive forest conservation areas. These four- or five-bedroom homes have a two- or three-car garage, three or four full baths and one or two half baths.
Luxury features include high ceilings, hardwood flooring on most of the main level, oak stairs, moldings, a gas fireplace, a luxury master bath and, in the center-island kitchen, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, maple or white cabinets and recessed lighting. The homes are priced from $999,900. Call 301/540-9490 or visit www.mitchellbesthomes.com.
Craftmark Homes is building single-family residences at Leaman Farm in Germantown, a community with open spaces and a tot lot. The homes have four to six bedrooms, 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 baths, and are priced from the $600,000s. Call 301/916-7806 or go to www.craftmarkhomes.com.
Porten Homes is building town homes at Eton Square in Germantown near shopping areas and commuter routes. The homes have three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and a two-car garage. Each home has a fireplace in the main-level family room, a center-island kitchen, a deck, a loft level and a finished lower-level recreation room. The homes are priced from the upper $300,000s. Call 301/972-5800 or go to www.portenhomes.com.
In Damascus, at Annapolis Rock, Craftmark Homes is building single-family homes with plenty of privacy on 2- to 5-acre sites. The homes have brick fronts, four to six bedrooms, 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 baths, high ceilings, moldings and a wood-burning fireplace. Call 301/527-9556 or go to www.craftmarkhomes.com.
At Damascus Overlook nearby, Craftmark Homes is building 18 homes on 1- to 3-acre sites. The homes have brick fronts, four to six bedrooms, 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 baths, high ceilings, moldings and a wood-burning fireplace. Call 301/527-9556 or go to www.craftmarkhomes.com.
Craftmark Homes is building upscale homes at Montgomery View in Laytonsville, each on a 1-acre site. The homes have brick fronts, four to six bedrooms, 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 baths, high ceilings, moldings and a wood-burning fireplace. Call 301/527-9556 or go to www.craftmarkhomes.com.
Also in Laytonsville, NVHomes is building single-family homes at Rolling Ridge, each on a 1- to 3 1/2-acre site. Several models are available, with base prices ranging from the upper $600,000s to $1,100,000. The homes have hardwood flooring in the foyer, kitchen and powder room, along with crown moldings. Call 301/740-8300 or go to www.nvhomes.com.
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