20 Years Ago: Supporting Frederick Together

Even 20 years later, the Ausherman Family Foundation (AFF) is still rooted in partnering with the community to move Frederick forward for all. An early example is the HOPE VI project with The Housing Authority of the City of Frederick to develop a mixed-use community. AFF wanted to help move the project forward but anticipated potential roadblocks due to past challenges. To complete the project quickly and efficiently, The Ausherman Family Foundation supported a consultant and helped form a network of community members who were interested in helping to modernize and revitalize downtown Frederick. Members included government officials, foundations, community leaders, local businesses, and nonprofits interested in housing issues. The group’s goals were to build consensus around the housing redevelopment plan, work with the Housing Authority and deliver the message that the project should be a “go” to local, state and federal politicians. This network resulted in the formation of a public/private partnership which stimulated additional community support.

The project plan included tearing down 146 aged public housing units on North Bentz Street, resettlement of residents and building in new decentralized low-income housing with homes and apartments spaced throughout the city. The HOPE VI federal project made the new sites available to people with a variety of incomes including federally subsidized housing alongside affordable and market-priced townhomes. It also included the new community center, Bernard W. Brown Community Center, which opened in 2007.

In 2003, the Housing Authority received a $16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development authority (HUD), thanks in large part to the public/private cooperation. Once the grant was in order, the community group continued to meet to find sites suitable for development. Sites were donated by the city and by local groups such as the Interfaith Housing Alliance.

Looking back, on the success of that project and all that was accomplished because of community collaboration, Ausherman Family Foundation is honored to have participated in such a significant project for our community. Today, we continue to seek out opportunities to work in true collaboration with others to achieve stronger impact. Similar projects with the same collaborative model have resulted over the years, recently with the Downtown Safety and Services Initiative. Networks are beginning to form to tackle issues around Trauma Response and Transportation. As we continue to have an ear on the ground to true community needs, several projects are in the works

Check out other happenings and interesting news related to the Ausherman Properties and Frederick County.

Marvin Ezra Ausherman, a native of Frederick County, received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Miami University of Ohio in 1974.

Marvin then joined his father in the family’s residential home building business. He eventually took the reins of the company until it was sold to Drees Homes in 2003. Marvin had a successful career as a second-generation residential home builder/developer, completing 30 communities and 5,000 homes over 40 years. For the past 15 years, Marvin has been a commercial developer/investor and devotes much of his time to the family’s philanthropic endeavors. He created the Ausherman Family Trust in 2000 and the Ausherman Family Foundation in 2006.

Marvin has and always will be involved in many Frederick County organizations and projects for the betterment of the Frederick community. He has served on the County’s Affordable Housing Council as chair and on the Boards of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation of Frederick County, YMCA of Frederick County, Federated Charities, Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County, Frederick Health, Frederick Community College, and others. He is the founder of BlueRidge Bank, a local Frederick County community bank, and also a member and Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Frederick.