Bancroft Village in Baltimore

Active Poster Joined: Dec 16 2009 Age: 45 Posts: 41

Hi, we are considering a move to Baltimore this summer, and would love to hear from people who live there more about these townhomes and about the people who are moving in there (age of children and parents, background, general feeling of warmth, where do they daven, etc.)
Thanks!

I'm sorry you haven't gotten any feedback yet. I don't know tons about it, but I do know 2 families who are living there--they are both young (late 20's, early 30's) with a few kids under the age of 8. It seems like a really nice group of people coming in and I think these houses are a great buy for the area. Most of the people seem like low-key, "normal" frum (not VERY yeshivish but not modern either), maybe who daven at Bnai jacob Sharei Zion (it's next door) or possibly even Rabbi Goldbergers. I don't think your typical agudah family is moving in. I also heard through the grapevine that they are trying VERY hard to keep it frum only, (a little difficult legally, but I heard it is being done unofficially).
Hatzlacha with your decision. Maybe you should consider renting in Fountainview for the short term just to get a better picture if this is the area you want to be in.

The man who built it is Gil Horwitz. He tailored it very specifically for frum people. That neighborhood (park heights) is more of a 'frum' neighborhood in general. Call Gil Horwitz and ask him straight out for names/references of people who bought in Bancroft Village. His number is in the eruv list.

never been inside them however they seem to be 4 or 5 bedrooms each with 3 bathrooms or something along those lines.... a downside is this development is based off a busy street- park heights

Senior Member Joined: Dec 19 2009 Posts: 247

Queen--I think they designed the street inside the development to discourage any traffic but residents. You can only enter and exit off Park Heights, so no one uses it as a thoroughfare. Also, within the development, the street is quiet.

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13155

Sounds cool to me, having got used to the concept after seeing it so prevalent in Lakewood. I guess it just may catch on in Balto, that that's not at all the mindset must Baltimoreans have. Wonder if there's room to add on.
I heard I have a (distant) relative there. If he's an idea of the demographics sounds great to me, though I might be an old timer.
And, the location is fantastic.

I don't think gil horwitz would know who bought. Aliza Wein, the agent could tell you. there have been some profiles of residents in the ads they have run over the past few months.

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18276

Active Poster Joined: Jun 27 2010 Posts: 59

I'm really interested, did you end up moving here? What's it like?

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13155

I've heard that the turn onto the main street is hard. But having seen them, from the outside, it looks pretty nice and again, great location. I don't know if this is an issue for people but I don't know what kind of potential for adding on there is.
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Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

I don't think you can add on - they want them all to be uniform, but the bedroom space is pretty ample.

Some people like new construction, and for them, it is a great option.

It has a townhouse/development feel and there ARE maintenance fees (on the flipside, you never have to worry about the city coming to clear your street Very Happy

).

People either love or hate the location...I think it's a good location but my husband HATES the idea of living on a main street and also did not want to buy in Upper Park Heights (these came on the market after we bought our house; I'm just saying our consideration when looking at different areas).

Shul-wise you have great options - Rabbi Hauer NEXT DOOR, Rabbi Heber across the street, not too far from Rabbi Goldberger, etc.

If you want a seperate house, the same $250,000 you would spend on these townhouses you can use to buy a seperate house (ranchers, mostly) in Cheswolde, an area which has a LOT of young families.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18276

(My husband's theory is that people who grew up in Baltimore, unless they're from UPH to begin with, are less likely to want to live there.)
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Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13155

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18276

Nope -- can't define! I think it's based on who he sees would never, ever move there, and those who are from Baltimore and are ok with it. Nothing concrete enough to define borders.

I know someone who just moved there and I got a quick peek inside her home. They give you a nice kosher kitchen and brand new everything. I thought the main floor was a little small overall - the living/dining room was probably smaller than in my Pickwick apartment. We just bought a home in the county - we thought it was a better investment overall, and I also really like having a little more privacy (we are moving out of the apartments for many reasons, and one is that I don't really like the yenta factor of being in a building where everyone knows everything, and it would definitely be that way in Bancroft Village also). It was very difficult to turn our of the complex onto Park Heights, compounded by the fact that they have an advertising sign right in the way of being able to see. Also, don't forget that the property taxes in the city, while reduced for the first five years of living in Bancroft Village, are twice what they are in the county.

Yes-definately contact Bondar Realty. Their website is: bondarrealty.com (410) 653-1999/ (410) 905-8403. Aliza Wein (Bondar) has a great reputation for finding people homes where they "fit in". She grew up in Baltimore and knows the ins and outs of the neighborhoods and schools. She has helped many people move from other communities to Baltimore and really does her best to find a place they will be happy in. Hatzlacha!!!

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 28 2005 Posts: 4653

I live in the City and just did the calculation - my property tax is about 1.5% of the assessed value of my house. I have to find my latest property tax bill to see exactly how they calculated it.