Penn Avenue Townhomes Ready Ahead of Schedule

inte8821 • April 2, 2012

Penn Avenue Townhomes Ready Ahead of Schedule

Kristin Harty Barkley
Cumberland Times-News
Published March 28, 2012

2012 — CUMBERLAND — The first group of townhomes at the site of the former Pennsylvania Avenue School should be ready to rent by the end of May — ahead of schedule, thanks to a mild winter.

“We didn’t think we’d get the first building until the end of summer,” said Patti Penn, property manager with Interfaith Housing Alliance Inc., which is building 25 townhomes for low- to moderate-income families. All of the homes should be ready for tenants by summer’s end, she said.

“These townhomes are going to have new washers, dryers, balconies, yards, central heating, air conditioning,” Penn told Cumberland Mayor Brian Grim and members of city council during a brief presentation Tuesday night.

“There’s huge walk-in closets, lots of storage space. There’s dishwashers. There’s so many amenities. It’s going to be a wonderful place for people to live.”

To qualify to live in the development, applicants must earn 50 percent or less of the average median income for the area, said Penn, who has received around 50 applications so far and is beginning to narrow the pool. Tenants can opt to buy their townhome after 15 years.

Councilman Nick Scarpelli said that he has driven by the development recently and is impressed by how nice the townhomes are. Councilman Butch Hendershot, who grew up in the neighborhood, agreed.

“I’m just delighted that you came along at this time and changed a property that was blighting into a property that’s beautiful and is going to do a lot of things for our families,” Hendershot said.

To get more information or an application to rent one of the homes, call Penn at 301-687-0363. For more information about Interfaith, a regional nonprofit that provides affordable housing opportunities, go to www.interfaithhousing.org.

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com.

2025 Out of Reach

By Jodie Ostoich • September 8, 2025
Maryland and Frederick County: A Growing Housing Affordability Crisis Each year around this time, I share data that highlights the growing challenge of housing affordability in Maryland—and this year is no exception. Maryland now ranks as the 8th most expensive state in terms of wages needed to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. A worker must earn $39.15 per hour —or nearly $81,450 annually —just to meet that threshold. Unfortunately, the situation in Frederick County is even more severe. Alongside Calvert and Charles counties, Frederick tops the list, requiring a staggering $44.50 per hour —equivalent to $92,560 annually —to afford a two-bedroom apartment.  Meanwhile, the average renter in Frederick earns just $18.25 per hour , which translates to an affordable rent of only $949 per month —far below what the market demands. This stark disparity is exactly why the mission of Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is so critical. We are committed to addressing these inequities and advocating for solutions that make safe, stable housing accessible to all. Below, you’ll find the 2025 data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition , detailing housing affordability across Maryland and its counties.

Fall Newsletter Grant Updates

By Rachel Gardner • September 8, 2025
Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce two funding awards received this quarter from community partners. In July 2025, IHA received a $3,500 grant from The Croteau Family Charitable Gift Fund, which is a donor-advised fund (DAF) held at T. Rowe Price Charitable. IHA also received a $5,000 grant from The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support all of IHA’s endeavors in strengthening the many communities we serve.

Build Confidence With Your Finances at Financial Freedom Bootcamp

By Lacy Allen • September 8, 2025
Money can sometimes feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to! This October, Interfaith Housing Alliance is offering our next Financial Freedom Bootcamp, a free, two-part workshop designed to help you take positive steps toward financial stability and confidence.  The bootcamp kicks off with an in-person workshop on October 15th from 5:30–7:00pm, where participants will explore the building blocks of financial health. You’ll learn how to create a budget that actually works for your lifestyle, discover the best practices for saving, and walk away with strategies for reducing debt in realistic and manageable ways. After the first session, participants are invited to take part in an optional virtual Credit Café, a supportive space to dive deeper into questions about credit and money management. This extra resource helps reinforce what you’ve learned and gives you the chance to connect with others working toward similar goals. The second workshop will be held virtually on October 29th from 5:30–7:00pm, making it convenient to join from home. This session will focus on building confidence when communicating with creditors, understanding your credit, and setting SMART goals to stay on track for the future. Together, these two sessions provide practical, easy-to-use tools to support your financial journey. No matter where you are starting from—whether you’re new to budgeting, trying to rebuild your credit, or just looking for ways to feel more in control—Financial Freedom Bootcamp is a welcoming and encouraging place to begin. At a Glance What : Financial Freedom Bootcamp – free, two-part workshop series When: October 15th (in-person) & October 29th (virtual), both 5:30–7:00pm Topics: Budgeting, saving, debt reduction, credit confidence, SMART goal setting Extras: Optional virtual Credit Café between sessions Register: Contact Lacy Allen at lames@interfaithhousing.org or 301-662-4425 ext. 1203
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