The Enolia Officially Opens: Morgan State University Student Living Reimagined

473-Bed Off-Campus Housing Property Less Than a Mile from the University Campus

BALTIMORE — MCB Real Estate, a commercial real estate investment management and development firm with nationwide holdings, held its official grand opening of The Enolia, a new 151-unit, 473-bed off-campus student housing project located at 4529 Harford Road in Baltimore. This $58 million development, situated less than a mile from Morgan State University’s (MSU) main campus, marks a significant milestone in providing modern, high-quality housing for MSU students and strengthening the surrounding community.

“The Enolia is a testament to MCB Real Estate’s commitment to the University and Northeast Baltimore, building on previous successful collaborations such as the redevelopment of Northwood Commons,” says MCB Real Estate Co-founder and Managing Partner P. David Bramble. “This project stands as a beacon of revitalization and a new standard for student living, while paying homage to one of the nation’s most pivotal civil rights heroes.”

The Enolia is named after one of Baltimore’s most significant civil rights leaders: Enolia Pettigen McMillan, who made invaluable contributions to the desegregation of Maryland schools and the advancement of African Americans. Her dedication to these causes led her to serve as the first female chair of the Morgan State University Board of Regents. After serving in this role, McMillan went on to become president of the Maryland State Colored Teachers Association and the first female president of the national NAACP. MCB worked closely with her family to ensure her legacy would be authentically woven into the identity of the project.

It is fitting that a project bearing McMillan’s name should also be both a catalyst for greater education opportunities at Maryland’s preeminent HBCU, and a building block for greater success across the region.

“As Morgan continues on its path of unprecedented growth and achievement, it is essential that we also strengthen the ecosystem that supports our students’ success,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “The Enolia not only expands our housing capacity with modern, high-quality accommodations, but it also pays tribute to a transformative leader in education and civil rights—Enolia McMillan—whose legacy still resonates powerfully across our university and community.”

The Enolia was thoughtfully designed to balance adding needed density to the Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street while minimizing the impact to the surrounding neighborhood. Its serpentine form, varied materials, and stepped design ensures the building compliments the scale of the surrounding commercial district.

Inside, The Enolia offers a unique living experience. Each of the bedrooms boasts a private en-suite bathroom, which has become the new norm in student housing. Units come fully furnished with full-size washers and dryers, quartz countertops, and stainless-steel appliances, providing a true taste of independent living with shared kitchens and living areas.

Beyond individual units, The Enolia provides an array of amenities designed to foster academic success and community. Residents have access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, a game room, study rooms with private huddle areas, and various lounges for both individual study and group collaboration. The building’s dynamic outdoor courtyard features three terraced levels with seating, lawn areas, and a fire-pit, providing ample space for relaxation and social events. Amenity spaces are strategically placed to activate the street frontage and internal courtyard, contributing to both the residents’ daily experience and the commercial corridor’s vibrancy.

The Enolia further invigorates what was once a dormant block on Harford Road which is the City’s longest designated Main Street and is also located in a State Enterprise Zone and designated Healthy Neighborhood. Where the 3.7-acre vacant site once interrupted the vibrant flow of local businesses, this property now introduces a dynamic influx of residents and activity, fostering a more engaging and walkable atmosphere that revitalizes this essential commercial corridor. Amy Bonitz, Project Executive and Managing Director of Community Development at MCB Real Estate, who has guided the vision and optimized every detail of The Enolia, explains, ‘We don’t consider a project a true success unless it also bolsters and energizes the surrounding community.”

Before even opening its doors, the project has been a stimulus for new investment. Three new local businesses have opened on the block over the last year. The university continues to experience surging enrollment and is working diligently to renovate and build new on-campus dorms. As the first apartment building specifically developed to serve MSU students in 20 years, The Enolia provides some immediate relief.

In response to Morgan State University’s urgent housing needs, MCB Real Estate combined social impact capital and traditional investment capital to bring the vision to life. MCB also partnered with the nonprofit Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street, Inc. (HLMS), which, in collaboration with Morgan State, secured a SEED Anchor Institution grant from the State of Maryland. This funding supported key early-stage work, including the demolition of vacant structures and the relocation of a major utility line to prepare the site for redevelopment.

“Located just minutes from our campus, The Enolia allows our students to become immersed in the vibrant rhythm of college life while offering easy access to local amenities and university resources,” adds Wilson. “With walkable connections to Harford Road’s Main Street corridor and dedicated MSU shuttle service, this new development is designed to meet the holistic needs of today’s Morgan student—supporting their academic journey, well-being, and engagement.”

About MCB Real Estate 

Founded in 2007, MCB Real Estate is a community-centric, privately held national commercial real estate investment management and development firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. MCB boasts a nationwide portfolio of $3 billion in assets under management totaling approximately 17 million square feet with almost four million square feet in its development pipeline. Property types include industrial, office, retail, mixed-use, multi-family and healthcare. The firm offers a seamlessly integrated suite of commercial real estate investment services, including acquisitions, development, construction, asset management, property management, leasing, marketing, financing and legal expertise, thus ensuring comprehensive support throughout every stage of an asset’s lifecycle. Learn more at www.mcbrealestate.com.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, Dell Jackson or Cheryl Stewart for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022

or

Jarnell Swecker, for MCB Real Estate
410-406-5103