Oella Company - Lots for Sale

Unique Building Lot for Sale

view from hill Should there ever be a contest for the most unusual building lot in the Baltimore metropolitan area, certainly the one at 601 Pleasant Hill Road in historic Oella would be a top contender. We know of no other lot that incorporates two 36± foot diameter reservoirs. One is covered with stucco over brick and the other by beautiful stone nine feet deep.

Why the reservoirs – well this is an old mill village founded in 1808 by the Union Manufacturing Company. At some point a sprinkler system was installed in the mill. Because there was no public water, pumps were used to raise the river water to the highest point in the mill village so that the strongest flow possible could be generated in case of fire. Of course there was a need for some way of holding water on top of the hill, so that is why these two reservoirs were created. They overlook Oella and the Patapsco River valley, providing some remarkable views.

But what do you do with reservoirs on a building lot. Don’t they get in the way?

stone reservoir Well, architect Charles Alexander has provided an answer. The first reservoir can be filled to within 3’ of the top, the stucco removed and the brick allowed to shine in all its glory. That allows space for a sunken garden and a two-car garage house with a Bedroom Suite or Office on the second floor. The structure would face an old courtyard bordered by four quaint craftsman-style kit houses nearly a century old. The garage doors would face away from the courtyard. A short walkway would lead to the main house that incorporates part of the stone wall and rests at the edge of a very steep hill.

The ground level would feature the Kitchen, Living Room, and Dining Room with a stairway winding down to a Great Room on the bottom floor. That floor would be surrounded on three sides by the circular stone wall with the fourth side a glass wall. Doors would open to a pool or another garden protected by the outside portion of the stone wall. Extending from the main floor and the bedrooms on the floor above would be decks taking advantage of the views to the southwest. That makes a choice location for those who enjoy watching sunsets.

The property rests at the end of a driveway and already has sewer and water connections.

This lot is not for everyone. If you want to build in a new development, don’t waste your time on this one. If you welcome the opportunity to create a unique home on a challenging lot in a historic community, then take a look. This is a place apart yet within 20 minutes of Baltimore's Inner Harbor and BWI Airport. The Washington Beltway is less than 30 minutes. You can walk to Ellicott City. You can have fun with this custom lot. It is truly without peer.