The winners of the Bel Air Appearance & Beautification Committee Awards for 2025 were recognized during a meeting of the Board of Town Commissioners on Monday, November 3.

Committee member Kristy Sudbrink, who serves as the ABC’s awards chair, announced the winners of the two Phoenix Awards, the Residence Award and Business Award.

“One of the charges of the Appearance and Beautification Committee is to encourage [community] efforts and activities in connection with the beautification of the Town of Bel Air,” said Sudbrink.

She noted that each of the award winners had beautified their properties in ways “that truly embody this spirit,” and that the attention and care they gave to improving the structures and landscaping “provides great pleasure” to both residents of and visitors to the Town of Bel Air.

Phoenix Award winners

The Phoenix Awards go to those who make significant improvements which transform their properties.

The first Phoenix Award winners announced for 2025 were the Flottemesch family, including parents Tim and Tara and their daughters Evy, Ada and Sylvi, for how they have enhanced their single-family home on Williams Street. 

Sudbrink cited improvements to the house’s siding, windows and doors, as well as enhancements to the garage that match the house.

Sudbrink showed PowerPoint slides with photos of each property during the awards presentation, including one slide with photos of the Flottemesch children – ages 7, 5 and 1 – helping with landscaping.

“I really think it was when Evy, Ada and Sylvi all did their work, that they made this house and garden look so beautiful,” she said.

Town Commissioner Mary Chance noted that she lived in the house now owned by the Flottemesch family when she moved to Bel Air in the late 1960s.

“I drive by it often and it thrills me to see what you’ve done . . . truly beautiful,” Chance said.

The second Phoenix Award went to developer Wayne Goddard and project manager Ron Crawford for their project at 30 East Broadway, in which the historic two-story F.W. Baker House No. 2 and adjacent block of six townhouses were redeveloped into the Baker House Residences. Baker House includes two apartment units in the house plus the six townhouse units.

Sudbrink listed the many improvements made to the structures, including fixing the foundation of the house, replacing windows, leveling the ground, repairing interior damage, new siding, as well as new walkways, lighting, windows, doors and landscaping for the townhouses.

“It took what was an eyesore in the center of the Town of Bel Air and turned it into something lovely, and that is a gift to everyone in our community, from businesses to residents to visitors just passing by and enjoying it,” Sudbrink said.

Residence and Business Awards

The Residence Award went to Steve Hollens for how he has maintained his home and gardens on Roland Place in the north side of Bel Air. Sudbrink described the gardens as “just stunning.”

She said people often plan their walks through the neighborhood in a manner that takes them past Hollens’ gardens.

Hollens expressed his thanks to the members of the ABC and “most importantly,” to Miracle-Gro.

Commissioner Chance said she and members of her family live near Hollens and described his property as “just absolute perfection when it comes to his lawn, his plantings – it’s beautiful.”

“Everybody should be trying to keep up with you, but that’s impossible,” she told Hollens.

Commissioner Jake Taylor, who lived in Hollens’ neighborhood for many years and would walk past his house, also offered praise.

“We thank Steve for making, especially that end of town, look as beautiful as it does,” Taylor said.

The Business Award went to Phil Rhudy and his business partners in Independent Brewing Co. The craft brewery, which was built in a former auto shop at 418 N. Main Street, opened in 2015.

The design of the brewery was influenced by the many breweries that Rhudy, Independent’s president, visited around the United States as he was developing the Bel Air brewery.

Sudbrink highlighted aspects such as the building’s “industrial style with corrugated steel,” plus “windows that bring so much light in” and a company logo that is more like a work of art than a business marquee.

“I think it just is truly so unique,” she said.

Sudbrink also praised the work of a gardener hired by Independent to handle the landscaping, which mixes the industrial style of the building with annuals and perennials planted around it.

“I think that that just softens the edges and makes it really, quite lovely,” she said.

Each winner received a small plaque to hang on a wall inside and a larger sign to install outside so passersby know that the ABC has recognized them “for being such a great contributor to our Town.”

“It’s my hope that this visual award on the outside will also help encourage other people to continue to enhance the Town of Bel Air,” Sudbrink said.

Contact Media and Public Relations Specialist David Anderson at 410-838-7181 or danderson@belairmd.org.