Welcome Center Opens At Harford's First Continuing Care Retirement Community

BEL AIR, MD — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was on hand to help cut the ribbon this week at the welcome center for Harford County's first continuing care retirement community.

Carsins Run at Eva Mar is not projected to open until 2020. However, a ribbon-cutting marked the start of marketing for the community for older adults, which will be built along MD 543 near MD 22.

The president of the community said that the project began with Harford County officials.

"Harford County courted us about 10 years ago to come up here because they have been exporting seniors to other counties or other states," Carsins Run President Susan Shea said during an interview with WAMD. "This way, the seniors in Harford County have the option to stay within their community — their friends, their churches, their families — which is so important."

There will be four levels of care on campus: independent living focusing on wellness, assisted living, specialized assisted living for those with Alzheimer's and skilled nursing.

A total of 514 apartment/condo units will make up the community, according to Harford County planning and zoning documents.

The goal is for the campus to open by 2020.

"I know it seems like a long time," Shea said. "It's a very long process."

Carsins Run at Eva Mar has to pre-sell 70 percent of the units before building can start, Shea explained, based on a licensing agreement with the Maryland Department of Aging. Eva Mar is giving itself two years to get there with its sales and marketing team, then it will take another 18 to 21 months to build the campus.

On the day it opens, the campus will be complete, with offerings like cafes and fitness centers.

"Everything will be open on day one," Shea said.

"It's not what a lot of people remember as their grandparents' continuing care retirement community," Shea continued, adding: "We even have a bar on the campus."

The welcome center for Carsins Run at Eva Mar is at 301 North Fountain Green Road in Bel Air. Hours are 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. daily and by appointment on weekends. People can also call 443-390-2590 for information.

Photo courtesy of Gov. Larry Hogan.