January 23, 2026

PATUXENT COMMONS IS FULLY LEASED!

Patuxent Commons is fully leased and we have welcomed our residents to their new home. Our Community Life program has kicked off providing support services to residents.

November 5, 2025

GRAND OPENING: PATUXENT COMMONS IS OPEN!

Mission First Housing Group, in conjunction with its partners the Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM) and the Howard County Housing Commission, hosted the Grand Opening of Patuxent Commons – a brand new 76-unit mixed income apartment community for adults with disabilities, older adults and families – at 6441 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD.

More than 150 supporters and project partners celebrated at the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony along with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Maryland State Senators Guy Guzzone and Clarence Lam, Maryland Delegates Jessica Feldmark and Vanessa Atterbeary, Howard County Councilwoman Christiana Rigby, Jessica Klaitman from the Office of United States Senator Chris Van Hollen, Robyne Chaconas from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Community Development Administration, Secretary Carol Beatty from the Maryland Department of Disabilities and Peter Engel from the Howard County Housing Commission.

October 4, 2024

Groundbreaking ceremony

Mission First Housing Group, in conjunction with its partners the Howard County Housing Commission and the Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM), broke ground on the construction of Patuxent Commons – a brand new 76-unit mixed-income apartment community for adults with disabilities, older adults and families – at 6441 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD.

More than 150 supporters and project partners celebrated at the Groundbreaking Ceremony that included special guests The Honorable Guy J. Guzzone, Maryland State Senate – District 13; The Honorable Jessica Feldmark, Maryland House of Delegates – District 12A; The Honorable Christiana Rigby, Howard County Council – District 3; Catherine Provost, Office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen; Assistant Secretary John Brennan, Maryland Department of Disabilities; Samit Paul, Howard County Housing Commission; Mark Dunham, Kindred Strategies; Lianna Petroski, Enterprise Community Partners and Amy Kleine, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

July 16, 2024

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS!

Project closes on all its financing and begins construction.  A 17-month construction schedule is anticipated.

July 16, 2024

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS!

Project closes on all its financing and begins construction.  A 17-month construction schedule is anticipated.

September 21, 2023

Planning Board Meeting

The project team received Planning Board approval of the Patuxent Commons Site Development Plan at the public hearing in September 2023.  We were grateful to the advocates who came out in force to testify in support of the project.

Dec, 01, 2022

Pre-Submission Community Meeting

This public meeting held in the Hickory Ridge Community provided the development team the opportunity to inform the community about the project design and answer questions, in advance of submitting our Site Development Plan to the County.

2020-2022

assemble financing

Mission First assembles project financing through applications to Federal, State, Local and Private entities.

February 18, 2020

Patuxent Commons site identified

Patuxent Commons site at Cedar Lane and Freetown Road in Columbia, MD placed under contract for sale.

March 2019

Mission First selected by Autism SOCIETY OF MARYLAND (Formerly Howard County Autism Society) as Patuxent Commons Developer

After responding to a competitive Request for Qualifications, Mission First was selected by the Autism Society of Maryland (formerly Howard County Autism Society) to execute the Patuxent Commons project.