About Harbor Pointe

Harbor Pointe was established in 1987 as a Planned Residential District (PRD) on what was known as the Bell Farm. Previously zoned as an R10/ Industrial area, the 279 acres was rezoned as PRD #3 to address the growing need for single family residential homes. The plat consists of four distinct sections that make-up the original concept of multi-use neighborhoods. Phase I consists of a large lot subdivision;

Phase II allows for 173 cluster lots within the 66 acres of land between Pemberton Drive and Phase I; future Phases III and IV had not yet been platted but intended use was for apartments or condominiums with a small commercial area to service the neighborhood. There are 81 acres of open space (commons) for recreational use.

The original marketing material shows a recreational area in the middle of Phase II with a pool, tennis courts, and clubhouse (community center) with 30 parking spaces. Groomed bridle paths with hitching posts were to run alongside established walking trails. Although one tennis court was installed and swimming pool construction was begun, the pool went unfinished until the City ordered that the shell be filled in since it posed a danger and carried much liability.

The legal and binding documents were created for the governance of a Homeowners’ Association once the principal developer had attained a percentage of sales and turned over his majority to the homeowners. In 1988, the Wyemoor Development Corporation of Baltimore purchased the tract of land called Harbor Pointe from Henry Hanna III, et al. Unfortunately, within four years, Wyemoor filed for bankruptcy in 1992. The bank holding the mortgage, Second National, went under during the S & L crisis of the late 1980’s/early 90’s and the remaining unsold lots in Harbor Pointe went into conservatorship with the Resolution Trust Corp. A now defunct temporary Federal agency, it became a massive property management agency. When this agency began liquidating holdings, the result was not in Harbor Pointe’s favor. Parcels were sold to a number of developers, some in bundles at tax sales, and no one at the time was interested in the entity of the existing Homeowners’ Association or continuing in the role of developer that would subject them to the Covenants and Conditions, thereby giving us the cohesiveness and continuity required to actualize the original vision that homeowners had bought into.

Our governing documents are the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions that are inherent to the Association. In 1999, the By-Laws were adopted. They modify the D, C, C, & R. In the same year we became incorporated in the State of Maryland as a Homeowners Association. In 1997, the acreage comprising Phase III was purchased by Tressler Lutheran Assisted Living of Pennsylvania, the earlier plan for apartments or condominiums having been abandoned. This campus has changed owners several times and is currently under the management of Sterling Care.

In 1998, Mr. Edward Goldstein of Landmark Realty Group purchased the land in Phase IV and began the build out of the commercial section. The Landmark Group, and several other unsavory investors, also owned a large number of parcels that had yet to be subdivided. Eventually, Mr. Goldstein sold his remaining interests to Mr. Lee Smith of Value Enterprise, who did some development before selling the entire southwest side of Phase II to Gemcraft Builders from Baltimore.

All these years later, we have had a small, dedicated volunteer Board who has tirelessly worked to right many wrongs and gain stability and financial solvency so that Harbor Pointe can thrive and improve. It’s all about maintaining the best possible outcome for property values for the homeowner.

**NOTE: This accounting is by one author derived from records, personal experience, and a 27-year history as a resident of the neighborhood. There are still several residents in Harbor Pointe who have been here since its inception. A comment section in the webpage under this heading would contribute to a more complete accounting of the events described herein. Any necessary revisions and periodic updates going forward would be a welcomed inclusion on the website.