Getting Ready to Start St Stephen’s

The Michael Group and Episcopal Housing Corporation hosted a Kick-off Pizza Party last Thursday night at the St. Stephen’s Apartments. The party served as a way to get residents together and prepare them for the project. It was also a beautiful night (warm and sunny), to get everyone together to meet and mingle and get to know each other.

Dan McCarthy, Executive Director of Episcopal Housing Corporation and Michael Shacklette, President of The Michael Group talk together before the meeting starts. The partnership between EHC and TMG began on the Recovery Community Project and continues today.

The Michael Group’s Project Manager Jeff Hill, introduced the TMG staff, explained the logistics of the occupied rehab and then took questions from the residents. While the residents had lots of questions, they were all very excited about the work that would be done on their units.

After the meeting was over, the residents enjoyed pizza and dessert from Jays Deli and had a chance to talk to the project staff about the upcoming renovations.

We’re all looking forward to getting started on this exciting community project. Check back in the next couple weeks to see photos from the beginning of construction!

A Beautiful Day for the Ribbon Cutting Celebration at MonteVerde

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day for the ribbon cutting ceremony at MonteVerde. It wasn’t really a grand “re-opening” since the building was never closed (we worked with the tenants in place!). It was however a day to celebrate how far the project had come. When Greater Baltimore AHC purchased the building a few years ago, it was “a mess” (said one of the residents at yesterday’s opening). It was institutional feeling, with cinderblock walls and a lot of deferred maintenance. Despite the state of the building, the community of folks that lived there were a great, vibrant community.  Many of these fabulous residents had lived at MonteVerde since it opened 30 years ago. It was time their homes got an update.

Architect Hord Coplan Macht designed beautiful community spaces (hallways, lounges, clinic, living room, entryway) and redesigned the residents units so that they were more open, efficient and homey.

The Michael Group spent 14 months in the building renovating everything from the units and common spaces to the elevators and hvac units. The end result was a transformed MonteVerde. One you would not recognize. One that has been compared to a boutique hotel. It has finally become the home that the residents deserved.

Special thanks to everyone that helped make this project such a success including the Michael Group staff, all of our subcontractors, engineers and supplies, the development team and partners and Greater Baltimore AHC!

Enjoying the Day: David Hunter, Principal at Hord Coplan Macht, Sebastian Soriano, Superintendent for the Michael Group at Monte Verde and Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group.

Andrew Vincent, Executive Director of Greater Baltimore AHC and Tarek Saleh, Architect on Monte Verde for Hord Coplan Macht 

A great day for affordable housing: Housing Commissioner Graziano, City Council President Jack Young and Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group

 

Time to cut the ribbon

Thanks everyone! What a great project!

A Day of Celebration at the Druid Hill Y Family Center

 

The day finally arrived. A beautiful, sunny, warm day in West Baltimore. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Senator Verna Jones, Congressman Elijah Cummings and Orioles Outfielder Adam Jones all gathered in front of the Druid Hill Y Family Center-to witness and celebrate-it’s reopening.

 

For the past 3 months, volunteers have worked around the clock renovating the Druid Hill Y. As one of the oldest YMCA’s in the country at 117 years old, the Druid Hill had several deferred maintenance projects that were impacting the work that the staff was trying to do.

The Michael Group, along with Peristyle Design and team of dedicated volunteer subcontractors and suppliers were able to get the work done in just three short months. The work included installing a new gym floor, a new computer lab, a new teen area a new childcare area, and a new entryway. Corporate volunteers also spent several days cleaning up the community, planting flowers and plants and renovating an adjacent park area.

Mayor Rawlings Blake tours the new computer lab with Greg Phillips, the Druid Hill Y Center Director and John Hoey, President of the Y of Central Maryland.

As a token of appreciation, the folks at the Y presented the volunteer team with an engraved window on the front door of the Y commemorating the hard work they put into this project.

Dedication on the front door of the Druid Hill Y Family Center. 

What a wonderful day for everyone involved!

Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group Inc, Perry Savoy, Owner of Peristyle Design and Gary Moore, Vice President of Allstate Floors pose for a picture during the celebration.

Special thanks to everyone that donated their time and talent including the staff of the Michael Group Inc, Perry Savoy, Wilhelm Contractors, Allstate Flooring, Business Flooring, Silverblatt Electrical, Colossal Contractors, Bay Door and Hardware and Mahogany Inc.

To read more about the Druid Hill Y project check out the Baltimore Sun and the Afro!

It’s Almost Time to Celebrate at the Druid Hill Y

Final coats of paint are being put on, floors are being waxed and people are getting ready…to reopen the Druid Hill Family Center YMCA this Friday after several months of pro bono renovation work.

 

Each January for the past 35 years, the Y of Central Maryland hosts a breakfast to honor Dr. King. This year, the Y decided to forego the event and invest time and energy instead into the revitalization of the historic Druid Hill Family Center Y in Baltimore.

The Michael Group, which has been a financial supporter of the Y for many years, is the lead volunteer contractor on this project. The Michael Group, together with Peristyle Design and a committee of dedicated volunteers enlisted subcontractors and suppliers to work pro bono at the facility to get the job done.

John K. Hoey, President & CEO of the Y of Central Maryland added “The outpouring of support for this project inclusive of volunteer labor, is nothing short of amazing and truly inspirational. The Michael Group and Peristyle have all gone above and beyond. The community we serve in Druid Hill will benefit greatly from their contributions.”

“The partnerships we have built on this project are inspiring. It just goes to show, that even in bad economic times, generous businesses and individuals are willing to help out for a good cause.” said Perry Savoy, Owner of Peristyle Design.

The Druid Hill Family Center Y will officially reopen the gymnasium, lobby and computer lab on Friday, April 30. From 1 to 6 p.m. when the Y and its lead sponsors will host a free community block party in front of the center. All are welcome to enjoy food, live music, face painting, free books, community vendors and artists, the Y Fit-n-Fun Van, a farmer’s market, games, giveaways and other activities.

Be sure to come check it out!

A Win for Affordable Housing in Maryland

The Michael Group wants to congratulate the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition on it’s great work this past legislative season. Two important housing initiatives were passed as the end of this year’s Legislative Session.

First, the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust was fully funded at the $2,000,000 requested by the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition and it’s supporters. MAHT funding will help generate more affordable housing opportunities state-wide, put Marylanders back to work and further propels the Coalition’s goal of creating and preserving more affordable housing in Maryland. 

The second was the passing of the Sustainable Communities Act of 2010. This Act will provide $10 million for the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit. It replaces the former Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Its primary objective is to support existing communities as desirable places to live and do business and to reduce outward pressure for sprawl development.

The Michael Group is proud to be a member of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition. If you are committed to Affordable Housing and are not yet a member of MAHC, please consider joining. Your participation will make a difference. For more information about joining MAHC, check out their website.

Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor / April 12, 2010): Governor Martin O'Malley, left, watches from the House of Delegates gallery as one of his legislative initiatives, House Bill 472, is declared passed. Kimberly Fry, Executive Director of Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition, is in center. The bill deals with residential property foreclosure procedures. Kurt Sommer of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is on right.

Step Up to the Plate

The Michael Group is proud to be a sponsor for the Baltimore Station’s upcoming annual fundraiser: The Homerun for Recovery. This is a party you don’t want to miss. The party takes place at Nick’s Seafood at Cross Street Market on April 22nd from 6:00pm-9:30pm. The Tickets are $60 in advance and $70 at the door. For the cost of your ticket you and eat and drink all you want while mingling with Baltimore movers and shakers! The live and silent auctions are not to be missed. Prizes include memorabilia, tickets to Orioles and Ravens events and other unique experiences, vacation trips and more.

Who knew going out to party with your friends and colleagues could do so much good!

Your support helps hundreds of Baltimore's addicted men and returning veterans enter recovery and resume healthy, productive lives

The funds raised support a cost-effective proven program addressing addiction and homelessness

The Baltimore Station program reduces crime, the cost of unemployment and imprisonment

Hope to see you there!

HOUSING DAY 2010

The Michael Group made it out to Housing Day last week despite the snow. Maryland Housing Day in Annapolis is an annual event which allows affordable housing professionals and advocates to come together to hear about the current year’s legislative agenda. It’s also a chance to talk to your representatives about the importance of affordable housing in MD. This year, the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition urged all of it’s members to make two requests to legislators:

1. Support the Governor’s request to maintain last year’s funding lever for the DHCD Rental Housing Programs and Partnership Rental Housing Funds. These funds total $21.5 million.

2. Authorize $2 million in general obligation bonds to be allocated to the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust fund. This fund is desperately needed just to bring the funding for MAHT up to the typical level.

PLEASE call your legislators and tell them to support the above mentioned issues. If you don’t know who your legislators are you can go to http://mdelect.net/ and find out.

Don’t forget: Housing MATTERS!