News

Date : 5/23/2010

BeechTree: Where We Live

WHERE WE LIVE: BEECHTREE IN UPPER MARLBORO, MD.

5/8/10 - Jim Brocker, Special to The Washington Post

Terrence Allison and several family members and neighbors spent a recent sunny Saturday pedaling their bicycles along the streets and trails of the Beechtree subdivision. It's a pastime that Allison, 43, has come to enjoy since his family moved into their new home about a year ago in the planned community in Upper Marlboro.

"We walk or ride our bikes if not every day, every other day," said Allison, a project manager for a communications company, as the rest of his group rode up the steep hill on Moores Plains Boulevard, one of the main streets in Beechtree, located on 1,200 acres in central Prince George's County.

The lure of the outdoors is strong for the 550 families who live in the upscale development anchored by the Lake Presidential golf course, which was named one of Golfweek magazine's best new U.S. courses in 2008. On weekends, it's common to see residents tending to their lawns and gardens or jogging and walking up and down the hills of a neighborhood planned to eventually include nearly 1,700 single-family homes, almost 500 townhouses and 240 multifamily units.

Many residents thought the community would be a little further along toward those goals by now. The pace of construction has lagged behind what had been envisioned by Houston-based Ryko Development. Work began around 2002-03 on Beechtree, one of several opulent developments that emerged in Prince George's during the height of the housing boom. But the real estate market was hit hard by the recession, and the demand for large homes has dwindled. The Colonial-style brick-front Beechtree homes are sizable, many featuring 3,000 to 4,500 square feet with high-peaked roofs, soaring ceilings, and spacious living rooms, rec rooms, kitchens and dining areas.

People who moved into Beechtree in the past 12 months have taken advantage of reduced prices.

Rasheim Curry and his wife, Jackie, both 37, arrived last October from Baltimore County. They wanted a neighborhood that offered a resort lifestyle and amenities, Rasheim Curry said. Prices were falling across the region, but builders were also scaling back some high-end features, turning some components that had been standard into "extras," he noted. Being patient ultimately paid off, he said. And Beechtree "had that 'wow' factor," Jackie Curry added.

The fitness opportunities were also important to the Currys, who enjoy taking long walks through the community. Rasheim Curry said they were able to work with their builder, Mid-Atlantic, to modify the plans for their home. "We got what we were looking for," he said.

Other residents have been drawn by the community's signature amenity, Lake Presidential, a public course that residents can play at a discount. The golf course, open since 2008, sustains itself through per-round fees and memberships. Beechtree residents have access to the facilities, including the clubhouse restaurant, without paying dues. Lake Presidential General Manager Nathan Presnal says residents have "an opportunity to buy into a resort lifestyle" without the hefty fees of traditional country clubs.

The golf was an attraction for LaMont Baxter, 46, who has lived in Beechtree for about four years, moving from a townhouse in nearby Glenn Dale with his wife, Kelli, 41. Baxter, who grew up in the District, said living in the outer suburbs required some adjustment. "It seemed a little country to me," he said.

But Baxter quickly warmed to the neighborhood. "Once I got there, it was cool, kind of quiet. It had a real neighborly feel to it." Baxter praised the Lake Presidential staff for working with the community, including hosting a Halloween party for youngsters.

Baxter, who moved into his house before the recession hit, likes the size of his home. "Including the basement, I have about 4,200 square feet," he said. "Some of my neighbors have that without including the basement."

Baxter also remembers when some houses were selling in the mid- or low $800,000s. "Now, it's from the mid-fours to $550,000," he said.

Ryko, which has built other luxury communities in Texas, based its initial plans and infrastructure for Beechtree at a time when the housing market was thriving, said President Bassam Barazi. The recession put construction at Beechtree three to four years behind schedule, he said. Aref Hinedi, a Ryko vice president, estimated the development would be completed in four to six years. Home prices now range from the $300,000s to the $500,000s, he said.

Barazi noted that builders are constructing fewer of the executive homes, the largest offered. Homes with smaller floor plans are selling more quickly, he said.

Residents are still waiting for a swim and racket club that has been planned since Beechtree opened in 2002-03. A reception hall is also slated to be part of that facility, which will overlook the lake. Barazi said depending on the county's approval process, construction should finally begin this year.

In the meantime, some residents who bought homes during the peak of the market have seen their property values plummet. Allison Paige, 39, whose husband is a minister at a D.C. church, said they were trying to work with their mortgage company to modify their loan.

Paige, who grew up in District Heights, has grown to embrace the Beechtree lifestyle, living there with her husband, four children between the ages of 3 and 18, "and my dog, my turtle and my fish," she said with a laugh. Beechtree is a family-oriented place, Paige said, and neighbors bonded during last winter's heavy snowstorms. She often hosts get-togethers. "I love where I live," she said. "To pack up and move would be hard for me."

Barron Dill, 32, who has lived in Beechtree eight months with his wife and two children, ages 7 and 4, said that the large homes on small lots make it easy to meet neighbors. "Most people who live in these big houses close together find that they come here for the community and don't want to be isolated," said Dill, who moved from nearby Marlboro Meadows. "Interest rates were at their lowest. It was a good time to buy," said Dill, whose home features a view of the lake and the golf course.

"Beechtree's architecture and landscaping are the best in the county," he said. "It's got the rolling hills that you don't see in many communities. We've got the proximity to Route 4, the proximity to D.C."

There are no retailers yet in Beechtree, and the Upper Marlboro area is less developed than other parts of Prince George's County, forcing residents to travel for some amenities. But some say Beechtree's central location is ideal, making those trips fairly short. "It's 20 minutes to downtown D.C.; the Bowie Town Center is nearby," said Terence Allison. "If we want to get out, get dinner, see a show, we don't have far to drive."