Gov. Ehrlich Names Osprey Developer of the Year

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. awarded the 2005 Commitment to Excellence Awards to Osprey Property Company for Developer of the Year at the Governor’s Workforce Housing Conference on October 18, 2005. The annual conference held in Baltimore hosted over 1200 attendees dedicated to developing affordable and workforce housing The Commitment to Excellence Awards program was developed to recognize projects and programs that further Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s mission to revitalize communities, encourage homeownership and expand affordable housing opportunities.
In the last three years Osprey and Habitat America, as the property manager, have developed and operated seven affordable senior and multfamily communities in Maryland. Project costs totaled over $65 million.

+ Bay Country Apartments, Dorchester County
+ Victoria Park Jaycees Senior Housing, Charles County
+ Victoria Park at North East, Cecil County
+ Willow Manor at Colesville, Montgomery County
+ Willow Manor at Fair Hill Farm, Montgomery County
+ Chapline House I & II, Calvert County

The award-winning principles that Osprey and its partners embrace include:

* Developing long-term solutions to economic growth by providing affordable senior housing apartment communities which give seniors an attractive, safe and affordable place to age in place while freeing up single family homes to young families;

* Focusing revitalization efforts on existing communities, such as rehabilitating Section 8 housing in low to moderate income neighborhoods and creating a viable Resident Services Program which assists children and families; and

* Maximizing the efforts of agencies and programs to achieve the best public return on State investments by effectively leveraging public/private partnership using 9% tax credit and bonds.

Brian Lopez, Vice President and Lydia Clark, Development Associate accepted the award on behalf of Osprey. Other members of the Osprey team included David R. Lewis, President; Brett Guy, Executive Vice President; Eva Coale, Controller; and Jack Salyers, Construction Manager. Osprey’s partners included Cathy Murphy, President of Habitat America; Jeanne Hendricks, Vice President; and Maryellen Earley, Director of Marketing. Jeff Kirby, President of J. Kirby Associates and Bill Hazlehurst, President of Bolton Properties Management also attended