Directly across from the historic 150+ year old Hollins Market sit three vacant lots. Once home to neighborhood favorite Gypsy’s Cafe, these parcels have languished since the original building was demolished in 2000. Local developer Ernst Valery and Baltimore-based architect Megan Elcrat are teaming up to create three beautiful, for-sale rowhomes on the site after receiving support for their proposal from the Hollins Roundhouse Neighborhood Association. In June 2023, NIIF was proud to support this important work with a $908,000 construction loan.
The completed homes will have 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and stand 3-stories high. Praised by the neighborhood association for matching “the historic character of the neighborhood while allowing modern amenities,” they will include thermally-insulated solid masonry construction on the exterior, French casement windows along the façade, and walk-out roof decks at the third level of each home.
“We are excited to create quality homeownership opportunities and activate underutilized, vacant lots in this historic Southwest Baltimore neighborhood,” said Ernst Valery, Founder and President of EVI.