HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The former Harford Memorial Hospital property could be transformed into a community of senior cottages. Trademark Homes unveiled plans to build 47 houses designed for residents who want to remain independent as they age.
The project, called The Cottages of Historic Havre de Grace, has generated considerable interest with more than 450 prospective buyers being added to a list to purchase one of the homes, according to WMAR.
The redevelopment follows months of discussions between Trademark Homes, the Havre de Grace City Council and the city's Planning Commission over what should replace the hospital, which closed in February 2024 after more than a century of serving the community.
Clark Turner of Trademark Custom Homes first presented plans for the hospital property to city officials in November 2025. Those plans included traditional single-family homes and approximately 16 cottages designed for senior citizens.
The hospital's closure followed the opening of the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen, ending more than a century of hospital operations in Havre de Grace.
But the response from residents prompted a change in direction.
According to minutes from a Feb. 4 joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission, Turner told officials that interest in the senior cottages following his initial presentation had been overwhelming.
As a result, Trademark decided to make the entire development a senior housing community. The project would offer smaller, single-family detached homes intended to accommodate older residents while fitting into the surrounding historic neighborhoods.
"Listen. As a lifelong Havre de Grace resident, I want to make sure that what we leave behind here is something that's compatible with the neighborhoods," Turner told WMAR.
However, the development could have an uphill battle to becoming a finished project because of the size and condition of the former hospital. During the February meeting, Turner outlined the demolition and site preparation work required before new homes could be built.
According to the meeting minutes, the project involves demolishing approximately 329,000 square feet of building material and removing asbestos from floor tiles and pipe insulation.
Turner also explained that concrete from the demolished hospital would be crushed and used to fill the existing basement. Even after that work, the site would require substantial additional fill material to raise the property to street level.
The official meeting minutes also noted that Havre de Grace has a higher percentage of older residents than the national average, with approximately 20% of the city's population age 65 or older, compared with 16% nationally, based on figures presented during the meeting.
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