Eastchurch

Less than a mile from downtown Frederick, the Eastchurch planned community offers modern amenities and new construction amid the bucolic surroundings of Frederick County’s rural farmlands and mountain vistas. “We feel we have a little niche being not in the center of downtown but still walking distance,” says Lisa Butler, sales manager with Wormald Homes, one of the builders at the site. “It’s so quiet. You don’t have the hustle and bustle. You really do get to relax a little more.”

Eastchurch is part of a boom of new construction in Frederick, a fast-growing city in western Maryland. Set on the historic site of Brengle Farm, which dates back to 1801, the development includes 400 units of new construction, including town houses, two-level condos and Craftsman homes. Houses see an average list price around $570,000, but they can start $400,000 and range up to $750,000. “When you drive through, it’s a very pretty community,” Butler says, noting that the homes take inspiration from the historic look of houses from downtown Frederick, with Georgian-inspired facades and lots of windows. “They’re not your typical brick townhomes.” Yards are small, but they are well landscaped and fit neatly against sidewalks that frame each street of homes.

The Eastchurch community features recreational amenities for residents to be active right outside their front doors. Its layout features manicured walking paths, a playground and community lawn space in a central location. The original manor house of the Brengle Farm now serves as a clubhouse with an outdoor pool, and it hosts events such as wine tastings, chili cook offs and a doggy swim party at the end of summer. “The dogs go into the pool the weekend after the pool’s closed to members, and they get to swim,” Butler says. “They love it, and it’s really fun.”

If you want to spend more time outside, you can take the short 3-minute drive to Monocacy Village Park, where you’ll walking and biking trails, pickleball courts and ball fields, as well as space for picnics in a large 16-table pavilion. Golf fanatics can perfect their swing at the nearby Clustered Spires Golf Course, the first public golf course in Frederick County. In addition to daily tee times, it sponsors a Friday Night Fun League and an amateur tournament every August.

Living in Eastchurch means you have easy access to Frederick’s vibrant downtown where Market Street stands out as a community hub for food, shopping and social events. Several bars represent the area’s established craft brew scene, such as Olde Mother’s Brewing and Brewer’s Alley, and an array of restaurants from the upscale fare at Hootch and Banter to the homemade Italian cuisine at Il Porto.

Frederick is also known for its independently owned shops, which number more than 100 in a 50-block historic district. Sip on artisanal coffee while you wait for a bike repair at Gravel and Grind. Find vintage clothing at Venus on the Half Shell on Patrick Street, or have custom jewelry created at InBloom Jewelry. The city also hosts popular community events throughout the entire year, from February’s Fire in Ice, a presentation of ice sculptures on every block, to the Maryland Craft Beer Festival in May and a traditional Oktoberfest in September.

Students in Eastchurch can attend Spring Ridge Elementary, which celebrates its school spirit each year by hosting the annual Roo Run, a fundraising fun run for students and teachers. Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School connects students interested in math and science to career professionals at nearby Fort Detrick, an Army research facility, while Governor Thomas Johnson High School offers students the opportunity for dual enrollment in classes at Frederick Community College. It’s also the site of the Academy for Fine Arts, a specialized program that immerses students in the study of visual arts, dance, music and theater. All three earn a B-plus rating from Niche.

The rural area that surrounds Eastchurch lends a peaceful setting to this attractive development, and the convenience of on-site amenities and proximity to a popular downtown district add extra benefits to living here.

Written By

Sarah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Tyler Priola

Video By

Grace Kim