Charles Street Construction at 695 Ramp Closures

On August 10, the Charles Street ramp to 695 West closed, and the roundabout entrance to that & I-83N reopened.

Traffic before had been routed coming north into the right lane to enter the Beltway, and those traveling south have used alternate routes to access I-695W since that entrance closed in early April.

According to the State Highway Administration’s press release, this new closure should be temporary, about two weeks.

The big upcoming change should come at about August 24th, when the west bound ramp from northbound Charles Street should re-open. The ramp to eastbound I-695 from Charles Street remains closed for the time being.

Weekend work will really change things. Look out for these big issues the weekend of August 27 -30 (or 9/10-13 in case of inclement weather):

Charles Street Bridge Traffic Switch – Weekend Work

• 9 p.m. Friday, August 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, August 30: Crews will shift all Charles Street traffic from the old bridge to the new bridge.  The Charles Street Bridge will remain open to vehicular traffic during the shift, with flagging operations and intermittent traffic stoppages throughout the weekend.

The ramps from southbound I-83 (Harrisburg Expressway) and eastbound I-695 to Charles Street will be temporarily detoured to the MD 45 (York Road) interchange during the weekend.  The flyover ramp from southbound I-83 to eastbound I-695 will remain open during the bridge traffic shift.

In case of inclement weather, the Charles Street bridge traffic shift and temporary ramp closures will take place the weekend of September 10-13.   This interchange currently carries more than 120,000 vehicles per day along I-695, with 55,000 vehicles per day along Charles Street.

Additionally, the left-turn ramp from southbound Charles Street to eastbound I-695 (Inner Loop) will remain closed until late fall, and the posted detour through Lutherville will continue.

Timonium Condo FHA Approval

At the end of 2009, HUD changed its’ condo approval process for FHA condo financing.

No longer can a community be given a “spot” approval when a unit goes under contract if a buyer desires to use FHA financing.

Condominium developments must be approved in advance of an FHA sale and the approval is only for a certain amount of time.

Many Timonium condo buildings have been approved already.

Luckily HUD has set up a website to check whether a condo development has been HRAP or DELRAP approved.

I entered the Timonium zip code 21093 to see all approved units. You can do this for any zip code if you are unsure of the condo development’s name!

Contact me if you are considering selling or buying a Timonium condo. I can help you navigate these tough waters!

Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) to be Eliminated

The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) will be eliminated, thanks to a bill signed into law by President Obama.

HVCC was enacted in 2009, and has been a big issue in the appraisal battle many home sales have been experiencing.

In June last year, Tasha Linton and I wrote about how HVCC Could Negatively Affect Towson Home Values , because the appraisers assigned are the lowest cost one available, not necessarily from the area. Real estate is very local — for example, Towson neighborhoods are very unique — sometimes even street-by-street! An appraiser from outside of Washington, DC will not understand the neighborhood nuances, and this could tremendously effect an appraisal value.

The HVCC going away is a huge relief to many in the real estate community, and homeowners should be very pleased as well.

HVCC will be phased out over the next 90 days, with the end of October closing this sad chapter in real estate housing history.

Ruxton Riderwood Lake Roland Community Plan Meeting

The Ruxton Riderwood Lake Roland community is having an input and community plan meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 pm at Blakehurst Retirement Community.

Blakehurst is located at 1055 West Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21204.

From the RRLAIA Neighborhood News:

The Plan identifies areas in need of improvement and locations in need of preservation. The wide variety of topics include traffic, schools, public safety, development, open space, bike and pedestrian routes and much more.

I look forward to seeing and hearing more of the Ruxton Riderwood Lake Roland Community Plan to even better our wonderful Towson neighborhoods.

Architectural Walking Tour of Sheppard Pratt in Towson

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 9:30 am, there will be an architectural walking tour of Sheppard Pratt in Towson.

Carol Allen, the President of Historic Towson, Inc. will lead the tour around the historic property.

Historic Towson, Inc. is a non-profit organization that is

“dedicated to preserving the architectural heritage of the community. It works with individuals, neighborhood associations and business to foster an awareness of historic preservation and to find methods to make it possible.”

Historic Towson, Inc. almost shuttered a few months ago.

This is being held in conjunction with the Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake-Roland-Improvement-Association and is one of the many things both organizations have to offer Towson residents.

Join in on Wednesday morning and find out about historic Towson and the old buildings that make up Sheppard Pratt’s rich background.

Hunt Valley Farmers Market, Koopers Wagon and IcedGems Cupcakes

Hunt Valley Farmers Market has opened and Kooper’s Wagon and IcedGems Cupcakes truck were there to celebrate.

A few of my online friends planned a “tweetup” to enjoy some burgers and sweet treats!

It was a hot day so we sat in the shade.

The kids ran around and had fun!

This day was a sneak peek before it officially opened in June. The Farmers Market showcases local wares like beef from local farms, as well as goodies from small shops and food from the area.

We have had our Kooper’s Burger Wagon burgers before, but this was our first taste of IcedGems Cupcakes. We will be back! We split a half dozen, and they are fantastic, delicious bites of heaven!

Two kids enjoyed the birthday cake flavor, and agreed that it tasted just like the real, yummy thing. Another had the PB&J, which has jelly in the middle and peanut butter icing. Another thumbs up. I was disappointed that the one I had been drooling over, the margarita one, wasn’t on “tap” for the day, but ended up with the “Key West”, which is a key lime pie in a cupcake. It was fantastic! I also had a mocha coffee, which was delicious as well. Next time, I am hoping for the “Midnight Mint” or the margarita.

Iced Gems travels daily, but plans to be at the Hunt Valley Farmers Market on a regular basis.

The Hunt Valley Farmers Market is Thursdays from 11 am – 2 pm June through October.

Ruxton Graul’s Movie Night June 13, 2010

The Ruxton Graul’s is hosting a Ruxton Community Dinner and a Movie on Sunday, June 13, 2010 beginning at 6 pm.

The movie will be “Finding Nemo”, and will begin at 7 pm, and will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 1401 Carrollton Avenue, Ruxton, MD 21204.

Graul’s is hosting the cookout featuring steak burgers, mac & cheese, watermelon, cupcake, bottle water, and their famous fresh squeezed lemonade.

Tickets for dinner are $5 each, and can be purchased at Graul’s Ruxton or at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Free popcorn during the movie!

$1 of each ticket goes toward the Towson YMCA Discovery Program.

So enjoy a nice night with your family and your Ruxton neighbors on Sunday!

6 Timberwood Ct Hunt Valley Station

6 Timberwood Ct in Hunt Valley Station is a four bedroom Faust built home located on a court with a level yard. *UPDATED JUNE 24, 2010, SETTLED.*

The hardwood floors and ceramic tile are in fantastic condition, as is the carpet on the second floor and lower level.

The kitchen has granite counters, and a sitting area. The current asking price is $600,000.

Right now, there are six homes for sale in Hunt Valley Station.

They are: 5 Ringleaf Ct for $572,500,  13 Ringleaf Ct for $569,000, a five bedroom home at 5 Berrycrest Ct for $549,900, the five bedroom 1210 Walnutwood Rd for $539,000, and 1210 Mapleleaf Ct for $525,000.

Contact me for more information on Hunt Valley Station single family homes.

Listing Courtesy of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

5 Ringleaf Ct Hunt Valley Station

Yesterday I was able to view 5 Ringleaf Ct in Hunt Valley Station — a very well maintained home on a quiet court on the market for $572,900. *Update June 17, 2010, 5 Ringleaf Ct in Hunt Valley Station was withdrawn from the market.*

The kitchen is nicely updated, and the hardwood floors in great condition.

This is truly, though, a three bedroom home with three bedrooms and two full baths upstairs. The fourth bedroom and third full bath are in the lower level.

There are currently five houses on the market in Hunt Valley Station, the other 4 are either four or five bedrooms upstairs.

On the same street is 13 Ringleaf Ct for $579,900, a five bedroom home at 5 Berrycrest Ct for $549,900, the five bedroom 1210 Walnutwood Rd for $539,000, and 1210 Mapleleaf Ct for $539,900.

Contact me for more information on Hunt Valley Station single family homes.

Home Listing courtesy of Riley & Associates

Fantastic Master Bath in Timonium Townhouse

A fantastic master bath in a Timonium Townhouse is hard to come by.

Enter 2313 Wonderview Road, a gorgeous townhome in Timonium with a brand new super master bathroom!

Two Cherrywood marble counter top sinks have individual mirrors and dual sconces for good lighting.

A brand new extra long shower showcases ceramic tile work, including built in shelving. The sliding glass door and a window creates a light and airy space.

Recessed lighting overhead and a new ceramic tile floor make for an incredible and inviting place to start your day and end the evening.

The walk-in closet is right off the bath, so you can continue to enjoy the luxury as you choose your clothes.

Spacious, open and warm, this master bath is highly unusual for the Ravenwood / Chapel Hill townhome community.

A gorgeous bathroom in a large, beautiful home!

Contact me for more information on this great Timonium townhouse or other Timonium houses.

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