Town House

Seven years after winning a rezoning battle for higher density development in North Laurel, a developer has abandoned plans to build 194 apartments in favor of selling 160 town house lots, due to the difficult economic climate.The James F. Knott Development Corp. submitted plans this month for the last phase of Bowling Brook Farms, off Gorman Road, which is expected to have 1,140 town houses and apartmentscompleted by the end of 1993."In the financing environment today, apartments are more difficult to develop," said Kevin Geraghty, senior development manager for the Towson-based firm.

One brilliant reversal has transformed an impractical floor plan into an easy-living space for a young family.So discouraged with the layout of their small town house, the family was considering a new home despite the fact that they loved their neighborhood. Enter designer Eileen Brown and a great idea: Why not simply reverse the existing floor plan? "We reconfigured rather than reconstructed," she says. "The way the builder built these town homes, the dining room was right next to the open kitchen, and the corner of the living room was unusable.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and his wife, Kendel, sold their Lutherville/Timonium town house for $235,000 this month to a first-time buyer who had been shopping in the neighborhood. Steve Papaminas, 36, bought the 1,520-square-foot home by bidding full price for the four-bedroom Colonial. Papaminas said he learned the home belonged to Maryland's first family when he saw photographs during a house tour. That's about as close as the two sides came in this transaction. Papaminas, an attorney in Baltimore, said he wanted a loft town house, and this one fit the bill.

KISSING A PIG was probably not the most pleasant thing ever done by Nancy Chapin, principal at Linton Springs Elementary School in Eldersburg, but a deal's a deal.Chapin agreed to smooch a pig if students at the school met their fund-raising goal for a recent PTA event.At a school assembly yesterday,Chapin puckered up and was supposed to plant a cheerful kiss on an 800-pound swine named Snort. Snort, however, refused to cooperate and stayed on the farm. Instead, Chapin kissed Me, one of a trio of piglets -- the others were Myself and I -- who were on call.

The young, single mother became excited recently after touring a four-bedroom, brick town house in a distant suburb.Although in poor shape -- with carpeting and appliances torn out -- the place seems perfect for the woman and her two small boys. Stunning floor-to-ceiling windows make the living and dining rooms unusually bright. The house is well-situated as an end unit. And the fourth bedroom would be an ideal playroom for the kids, she reckons.The only catch is price.Comparable homes in the neighborhood are priced 5 percent to 10 percent lower.

The Town House, much of the park system, and other public areas in this south Carroll town are well on the way to being fully handicapped-accessible.But aside from those examples, much remains to be done around town to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, town officials say.To meet the mandate of total handicapped-accessibility in Sykesville, the Town Council approved on Monday the appointment of Town Manager James L. Schumacher as...

March giving De Francis a rough rideTrack owner reports break-in at his town houseThe sixth race was just about to be run at Laurel Race Course yesterday, when Donna Kennedy, personal secretary to track operator Joe De Francis, got a disturbing message.The alarm system at De Francis' Inner Harbor town house had gone off. She immediately summoned the Baltimore City police.After officers reported nothing amiss, Kennedy dispatched Laurel security guard and driver, Bob Darling, to reset the alarm.

Sykesville Town Manager James L. Schumacher has reviewed 25 applications and conducted 14 interviews for the newly created building inspector position.During the next two weeks, Mr. Schumacher said he plans a second round of interviews with the five most-qualified candidates.He asked the mayor, council members and town engineer to participate in the sessions.The two-year contract position entails inspection of all developments, including road construction, grading and on-site work as well as writing requests for proposals and computer mapping systems.

Sykesville will observe the Columbus Day holiday Monday and close all town offices.The Town Council has rescheduled its meeting to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Town House, 7547 Main Street.Commercial trash collection will take place Monday as usual.The council has set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Oct. 23 on whether the town will reduce residential trash collection from twice to once a week.& Information: 795-8959.FireEldersburg: Sykesville and Gamber responded to investigate a fire alarm sounding in a building in the 1400 block of Progress Way. The first call was received at 9:40 p.m. Units were out 11 minutes.

Keystone Builders in Bel Air is weathering a slumping housing market by putting up moderately priced town houses in four Harford County developments.Base prices for the town houses, which have traditional brick fronts, range from $70,000 to $90,000. Floor plans and standard features for the 1,200- to 1,400-square-foot houses vary."Overall pricing is lower in Harford County. For people who are value-oriented, they have to look to Harford. Harford isn't perceived as being out in the boondocks anymore.