QUEEN ANNE’S — Maryland State Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day visited key points of community development during a tour of Queen Anne’s County March 26.
During Fiscal Year 2020-2024, Queen Anne’s County received more than $46 million in funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to create affordable housing, improve broadband service and revitalize neighborhoods. Stops on the tour highlighted several places in the country supported by these initiatives and programs.
Day and members of the Department of Housing and Community Development began the visit at the former Sudlersville Middle School and now community laundromat at North Church Street; a prominent topic of local discussion has been how its second life will continually transform for the community.
The former middle school was the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant and Community Legacy Grant and work is currently underway to continue efficient and cost-effective approaches for redevelopment.
The facility sat vacant for several years but is now serving as a much needed community laundromat after a feasibility study inquired and gauged the needs of the community.
Originally constructed in the 1920s, the former middle school is now owned by the Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company, who purchased the approximately 60,0000 square foot facility and 10 acre property in 2012.
The fire company was able to purchase the former middle school for a minimal sum without the need for fundraising, fire company trustee Mike Faust said.
Four part-time employees work at the laundromat, performing washing and clean up services and financial profits from the laundromat keep the electricity and heat on, Faust said.
One-third of the building is also utilized by Russum’s Furniture Auctioneers and the fire company uses parts of the facility for training exercises and to prevent it from going into disrepair.
“We try to be good stewards,” Faust said.
Secretary Day and the DHCD leadership team also toured the business district of Centreville, as part of the Main Street Maryland community to strengthen local businesses. Stops in Queenstown highlighted local businesses like Onyx Beauty Supply that benefited from Project Restore, a program that helps turn vacant storefronts into viable business space.
The tour finished at the Promenade at Red Apple Town Center to look at the key affordable housing opportunities available in the local area.
The visit to Queen Anne’s County was part of the department’s Day Trips tour, the latest in a series of visits across the state to hear directly from the community and highlight DHCD invested projects.
“I’m always excited to see our successful community projects in each county and meet the people who work hard to make where they live and work better,” Day said, “Queen Anne’s County is a good example of how local leadership can work side by side with the Moore-Miller Administration to ensure that no Marylander is left behind when it comes to housing and community revitalization.”
More information about DHCD can be found at: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HousingDevelopment.
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