"This is a substantial footprint of a plan in a residential area, and I would expect that there would be substantial opposition by residents who live around there, despite the fact that many feel Keswick and the country club are fine facilities," Spevak said.
The civic league has asked the club for detailed information and will take a position once the community has had a chance to see it. Spevak said he's disappointed that the club didn't come to the league earlier to allow residents a chance to raise private or public money for preservation rather than development.
Bowerman, the Keswick CEO, said traffic would be "considerably lower" at the retirement community than if the land were developed for other residential or commercial uses.
FOR THE RECORD - Because of incorrect information provided to The Sun, an article and map in Tuesday's editions about a proposed retirement community on Baltimore Country Club land located the site incorrectly. The property that Keswick Multi-Care Center has agreed to buy is north of Hillside Road, not south.
The Sun regrets the error.
The complex, on Falls Road between Oakdale and Hillside roads, would have only one entrance.
Keswick plans about a half-dozen buildings designed to look like large houses, she said: "The exteriors of the buildings would be mimicking the Roland Park housing - like stucco, brick, porches, dormers."
Zoning on the property allows residential uses. Keswick plans to seek Baltimore City Council approval for a planned unit development this fall.
City Councilwoman Sharon Green Middleton said yesterday that Keswick has talked to her about the proposal, but she would wait for community input before taking a position.
She said Keswick officials are aware of community concerns about development and appear to be designing the plans accordingly.
"Once they get everything together for their presentation, they will set up a meeting with the community - the Roland Park Civic League and all other entities - which is what I wanted to make sure happened," Middleton said.
Continuing-care retirement communities offer a continuum of living options, so older adults can move in when they're active and don't need medical care but can stay when more assistance is required. The letter to Baltimore Country Club members, describing Keswick's planned community as "high end," said members would get preference in the initial sale of units.
Roland Park Place, next to Keswick on 40th Street, is the only accredited continuing-care retirement community in the city, said its president, Terry D. Snyder. Entrance fees there start at $140,000; monthly fees start at $2,900.
She said she is not surprised that Keswick, which currently has no independent-living options, sees reason to expand into continuing care. She said she has a "strong" waiting list.
"Continuing-care communities across the country are all preparing for the future market demands," said Snyder.
jamie.smith.hopkins@baltsun.com
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Jamie Smith Hopkins on the real estate market at baltimoresun.com/realestatewonk
