Pasadena

Marketed in the 1920s as a summer retreat for Baltimoreans, Green Haven has grown into the single largest neighborhood in Pasadena. Sitting adjacent to Stoney Creek—a large tributary of the Chesapeake Bay—this neighborhood is best known for its private beach, boat launch and 110-foot Green Haven Wharf. The area also offers quick access to local schools throughout the neighborhood as well as access to shopping and dining along Mountain Road. This road also leads to interstates and highways allowing for commuters to reach downtown Baltimore. The neighborhood has come a long way from being “an older beachfront community that used to just be old cottages with no heating or insulation,” says Bonnie Fleishman, a resident of Pasadena and associate broker with Douglas Realty for over 4 years. The area has grown and improved a lot with new housing and infrastructure “while still being affordable,” Fleishman says. Green Haven residents have plenty of options for enjoying the outdoors, such as Green Haven Wharf, the namesake of the area, which is a popular spot for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Anne Arundel County Park offers a cozy and serene green space with a playground and picnic areas. Highpoint Park caters more to organized sports, with two basketball courts and “plenty of open space for a game of kickball or baseball by the elementary school,” Fleishman says. Featuring nearly 1600 residences, homes here are arranged in such a way that every resident is just a short distance from the water. The most common housing styles on the eastern end of the neighborhood are wood-sided townhouses, many of which sport balconies, while the western end of the area sports single-family homes, many of which share ranch and split-level stylings. Townhouse prices can range from $200,000 to $400,000, while single-family homes range from $250,000 to about $630,000, depending on the access to water and the size of the backyard. For recreation and fun, many locals choose to head to downtown Baltimore for such attractions as the Baltimore Aquarium or catching a game at either Oriole Park or M&T Bank Stadium. For playing a round of golf, Residents can tee off at the Compass Pointe Golf Courses, which offers two 18-hole championship courses as well as multiple leagues and courses just 4 miles from the neighborhood. Dining options, especially seafood options, are extensive in the Green Haven area. Nearby Gourmet Pizza and Subs has been around for over a decade and “makes really good homemade shrimp salad,” Fleishman says. Stoney Creek Inn is another nearby eatery that offers crab dishes as well as classic American fare. For a sweet treat, locals visit Three Bs Bakery, “which has been around forever,” Fleishman says and is especially popular for its donuts. For groceries, many locals head to the Food Lion less than 2 miles away from the neighborhood’s center. Students here attend Anne Arundel County Public Schools, home of 18 nationally recognized Blue Ribbon Schools. Green Haven students can start at High Point Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche and was “recently renovated, making it beautiful and a lot larger,” Fleishman says. They can then move on to Northeast Middle School, which earns a C-plus rating before finishing up at the B-rated Northeast High School. “I am still friends with teachers I had when I was a student here,” Fleishman says. The Green Haven area is a more suburban area, so cars are the main source of transportation, although residents do walk around for exercise and recreation purposes. For commuting and trips, residents have quick access to Maryland State Route 100 and Governor Ritchie Highway via Mountain Road, meaning trips to Annapolis or Baltimore are often a quick feat. For trips not reachable by boat, the Baltimore/Washington International Airport is 13 miles to the west. For medical care, many residents choose to head to Baltimore’s University of Maryland Medical Center, 18 miles away.

Hugged by several creeks flowing into the bordering Patapsco River, Solley offers an upscale lifestyle featuring waterfront homes and a growing number of luxury housing developments. Locals take full advantage of their community clubhouses and swimming pools, which all come with the cost of being part of a homeowners association. Residents can enjoy relaxing on private community beaches, taking boats out to the river and Chesapeake Bay and dining out at waterfront restaurants. While a large section of the neighborhood is highly industrial with dozens of manufacturers, warehouses and the Brandon Shore Power Plant, it’s all hidden by trees, other than the power plant’s towering smokestacks. HOA developments continue to be built after they began popping up in 2008, taking over what was once mostly woods. Luxury three-to-four-story townhouses are the most common homes in these developments, ranging from $350,000 to $600,000. Most come with attached garages and back decks either facing neighbors or the woods. Some developments feature single-family Craftsman-style houses with three to five bedrooms and fenced-in backyards selling for around $450,000 to $675,000. Those seeking waterfront homes can find them on the southeast side of Solley. Single-family houses in all shapes and sizes line the creek shores with private docks and a wide range of prices. There are small 600-square-foot houses with one bedroom starting at around $350,000, larger 4,000-square-foot homes selling for up to $915,000 and everything in between. Most housing developments come with clubhouses for the community to enjoy. “It’s like resort-style living with all the amenities,” says Marina Yousefian, Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate, who has sold hundreds of homes in Solley. “They have everything from outdoor pools, dog parks, playgrounds, gyms and lots of walking trails.” Those who don’t live by the water can keep their boats at one of the many marinas or leave it at home and take it out from a nearby launch like the one at Solley’s Cove Park. Some communities also have their own private beaches with boat launches and fishing piers open only to residents. Several local restaurants line Fort Smallwood Road just before the Stoney Creek Drawbridge. Stoney Creek Inn is a local favorite, where residents enjoy the restaurant’s famous crab cakes while soaking in views of the marina from the patio. There’s also the hidden gem of Broken Oar Bar & Grill, offering sushi and American grub with creekside seating. Across the bridge, locals can shop for groceries at Geresbeck’s. For other shopping needs, residents can head 5 miles south, where there are lots of shopping centers with big box stores along with Marley Station Mall. Students may attend Marley Elementary School, graded a C-plus by Niche. They’ll go on to Marley Middle School, which receives a C from Niche, and Glen Burnie High School. Glen Burnie gets a B grade from Niche and is ranked the 21st-most diverse public high school in Maryland. Baltimore commuters can access Interstate 695 about three miles north, allowing for a 10-mile trip to the city before coming home to the waterfront and resort-style communities of Solley.