The Flower Pot Assisted Living offers an intimate alternative to larger institutional settings. Photo courtesy of The Flower Pot

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Roland View Towers to be renovated

Two apartment buildings that have overlooked Hampden and Roland Park since 1964 will soon get a new look.

St. Mary’s Roland View Towers, affordable rental properties for people 55 and older, will be renovated starting next year. As part of the project, a glass elevator tower will be installed, in addition to a rooftop energy system.

“The buildings were built in the mid-60s, and literally everything is wearing out faster than we have been able to replace or repair it,” said Art Ruby, property manager for the past 30 years. “I’m very optimistic and looking forward to a brand new, shiny Roland View Towers.”

No residents will be required to move off the property during the project. Instead, a full-time relocation manager will help people move within the building while their rooms are under construction. Their belongings will be packed and moved free of charge.

“We’re going to make it as easy on the residents as possible,” said Bill Whitman, partner at Somerset Development Company, LLC, which is overseeing the project.

Somerset will focus on one building at a time, replacing electrical systems, plumbing and roofs, and insulating exterior walls. The number of units will be reduced to from 206 to 178 because several 400-square-foot studios will be expanded into one-bedroom apartments. The property will gain a new community room and offices.

As for the elevator “tower of light,” he said, it will add a “lovely, physical presence in the marketplace.”

Somerset plans to install solar canopies on the roof and over the parking lot, which can generate electricity on sunny days. “This is going to be very important for preserving the affordability at the building over its life,” Whitman said.

For more information, visit rolandviewtowers.com or call (410) 889-8255.

New assisted living home opens in Belair-Edison

For round-the-clock care in a setting that feels less like a facility and more like home, a new option is opening in Baltimore’s Belair-Edison neighborhood.

The Flower Pot Assisted Living, founded by Kevin Dixon, offers an intimate alternative to larger settings — one inspired by his own experience as a caregiver. Dixon, a Washington, D.C., resident, struggled to find good care for his mother during her cancer treatment.

“I had to take off work because I couldn’t find a proper place to take care of her,” Dixon said.

Opening an assisted living home had long been a goal, and when he saw a large historic house up for auction in Baltimore, he knew the opportunity had arrived.

“It’s always been one of my goals, one of my dreams, to get something done like that,” Dixon said. “The opportunity presented itself, and I was prepared.”

Dixon completed an extensive renovation of the property at 4101 Harris Ave., preserving historic details while adding modern amenities.

Located next to Herring Run Park, the house has bright, spacious rooms with large windows. The property includes a fully renovated kitchen, where staff will prepare fresh, home-cooked meals daily, served family-style.

The Flower Pot will provide comprehensive 24-hour services, including medication management, assistance with bathing, dressing and other daily activities, as well as laundry and housekeeping services. The home will also offer post-hospitalization rehabilitation care and respite stays for families in need of short-term support.

With a small resident-to-caregiver ratio, Dixon said, The Flower Pot can provide the personalized attention that larger facilities often cannot.

Beyond basic care, Flower Pot will offer light exercise, music, arts and crafts, and gardening to keep residents engaged. Staff will also coordinate transportation, manage appointments, and assist with bills and finances — services that help ease the burden on family caregivers.

The admission process starts with a personal tour, followed by a care assessment to understand each prospective resident’s needs and preferences. Staff then work with families to coordinate a smooth move-in.

For more information or to schedule a tour, call (443) 750-3639, visit theflowerpot.homes or email kevin@theflowerpot.homes.