Bel Air Academy Breaks Ground On East Gordon Street

BEL AIR, MD — A new development project is underway in downtown Bel Air. Officials from Bel Air, Harford County and the developer were on hand for a groundbreaking Tuesday on East Gordon Street.

The Bel Air Academy is projected to open in spring 2020.

It's located at 45 East Gordon Street in Bel Air.

The building was used as a school in Bel Air from 1814 when it was built until 1900, at which point it was purchased for use as a residence, according to the Maryland Historical Trust. It was a state-chartered college preparatory school until 1888, when it was used for primary school in Harford County.

It also housed the headquarters for Harford County Public Schools, The Aegis reported.

Once complete, the new development will contain townhouses and apartments, according to a statement from the town of Bel Air.

There will be 12 townhouses and eight apartments, according to The Aegis, which said the project will cost $4.5 million and involves gutting the old building, since one of the stipulations of the $101,000 purchase at auction from the county in 2015 was that the property not be demolished.

Each apartment will have Energy Star appliances, a NEST thermostat, washer and dryer, walk-in closets, USB plug-ins in the bedrooms and chef-quality kitchens with granite counters.

A sky bridge will connect the two buildings, according to developer Zoulis Properties.

Bel Air Mayor Amy Chmielewski, Zoulis Properties owner John Zoulis and Architectural Design Works owner Paul Thompson spoke at the event, according to Bel Air economic development officials. In attendance at the Bel Air Academy Apartments and Townhomes groundbreaking were members from the town, Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development, Harford County Council, Bel Air Downtown Alliance and Harford County Chamber of Commerce.