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.

Fall Updates from IHA

September 2, 2026
A quarter of grant wins, community partnerships, and small moments that remind us why this work matters. Here's what's been happening at Interfaith Housing Alliance since the summer. GRANTS & FUNDING: Four New Grants Fuel IHA's Work This Quarter Interfaith Housing Alliance is proud to announce four funding awards totaling $220,000 during the last quarter from our community partners. In June 2026, IHA was awarded a $30,000 grant by Ausherman Family Foundation. This capacity-building grant will provide funding support for the organization during its transition to new leadership. It will also support IHA's work with key community consultants with the goal of recentering IHA's programs and services in Frederick, MD. In July 2026, IHA was awarded a $125,000 grant from Morgan Stanley. This operational grant supports IHA in its ongoing quest to create and provide affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income (LMI) community members. It also supports IHA's continued community programming, which provides access to financial education and affordable homeownership opportunities. In August 2026, IHA received two funding awards in support of IHA's Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services. IHA was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Maryland Housing Counseling Fund (MHCF). IHA was also awarded a $35,000 grant by Rural Maryland Council (RMC) through their Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) program. These grants will support the full spectrum of community programming IHA offers, including group educational workshops on financial health, individualized financial coaching and housing counseling, and pathways to affordable homeownership. We are deeply grateful to these partners for their continued investment in this community.

Weinberg House Renovation Brings New Life to Senior Living

By Vickie Mills • June 2, 2026
Exciting, the final renovations of the last two units are underway at Weinberg House, a long-standing affordable senior living community in Fredrick, Maryland. Originally built in 1994, the property provided safe, stable housing for older adults for decades. Renovations began on May 1, 2023. At that time, they had a total of 23 units to renovate. The renovations included freshly painted walls, new carpet in the bedrooms, new flooring in the other rooms, new cabinets in the bathroom, as well as new kitchen cupboards, fixtures and new appliances. The final two units will be ready for lease up June 15, 2026. The renovation of Weinberg House represents a meaningful investment in both people and place. By modernizing the property while protecting its mission, this project will help ensure that affordable, welcoming housing remains available for seniors for years to come. It is an encouraging example of how thoughtful redevelopment can strengthen communities and honor the residents who call them home.

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce three funding awards during the last quarter from our community partners.

By Rachel Gardner • June 2, 2026
In March 2026, IHA was awarded a $50,000 grant through the Frederick County Government’s Helping Empower Area Resources Together (HEART). These one-time operational funds were awarded to mitigate the effects of the longest federal government shutdown in history. This grant has allowed IHA to continue providing essential programs and services to Frederick County residents despite challenges at the federal level. IHA was also awarded a $5,000 grant from the City of Frederick through the Community Promotion Grant program. This grant supports aging in place and youth development needs among City residents through IHA’s Supportive Services. The program serves residents of IHA’s senior and multi-family affordable rental communities at 222 Broadway Street (Weinberg House) and 520 N. Market Street, respectively. In April 2026, IHA was also awarded a $25,000 Community Partnership Grant from Frederick County Government. This grant supports IHA’s full range of Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services, including our homeownership and financial education programming. IHA’s Purchase-Repair Program provides an avenue to homeownership for those who otherwise would not qualify for a traditional home loan. In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp helps participants improve their skills in budgeting, saving, debt reduction, and financial goal setting. The Frederick Affordable Housing Incubator (FAHI) brings multiple sectors together to increase the affordable housing inventory in Frederick County.
Show More