Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Ervin: ‘We’re turning on a faucet and only letting some drops drip out of the faucet, and then we’re pretending like that’s good enough.’
Officials, advocates and the community at large need to shed outdated ideas about the long-hailed strength of Montgomery’s affordable housing programs, councilmembers say, and come up with concrete plans that work effectively. More than a year in the making, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs has drafted a 100-page housing policy—the first update since 2001—that puts a priority on: Councilmembers want to make sure the county does not rest on the laurels of decades past, when initiatives like the MPDU program LINK made Montgomery a pioneer in affordable housing. “Before we start patting ourselves on the back and congratulating ourselves for all the wonderful things we’ve done, we still have to recognize that Montgomery County…
Monday, November 12, 2012
County Council will hold eight public hearings and introduce three pieces of legislation on Tuesday.
The Montgomery County Council is set to take up its vision for a new housing policy, declare its position on this year's request for school construction funding, and introduce a bill to rewrite the fee structure for mitigating the traffic and school-population impacts of new developments. Tuesday's weekly meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the Council hearing room at 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD. Call 240-777-7803 to testify. The meeting is also televised live on CCM Channels Comcast 6, RCN 6, Verizon 30. For more information, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council. See the full agenda here. A NEW VISION ON HOUSING The Council will be briefed on the 2012 update to Montgomery County’s Housing Policy. The draft policy—finished …
Friday, August 10, 2012
Montgomery County residents can expect to see several thousand new rentals being built in the area throughout 2012, while less than a thousand are set to be built in Prince George's County, according to a report.
Those looking to settle in Montgomery County over the next year may be looking at lower average rents and more options, The Washington Post reports. Current projects under construction are projected to deliver around 4,500 market-rate apartments to the area by the end of the third quarter, according to The Post. The county has 16 apartment projects set for construction by mid 2012, the highest out of all Maryland suburbs, The Post reports. By comparison, Prince George’s County has one of the lowest, with three such projects. According to The Post, during the economic downturn, the construction of multi-family projects decreased—but since last year, construction on these types of projects has begun to come back. Maryland and Washington, DC…
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Bethesda Cares client Christopher Page was found dead on the streets of Bethesda May 27.
A 33-year-old homeless man was found dead on the streets of Bethesda days before he was set to move into permanent housing, according to advocacy group Bethesda Cares. Christopher Page, a Bethesda Cares client, was found dead May 27. He died of ethanol and methadone intoxication, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. Page was set to sign off on the paperwork for his new apartment in Wheaton June 4. An Army veteran, Page suffered from mental health and substance abuse issues, and had been living on the streets for about seven years, according to Bethesda Cares outreach specialist John Mendez. In Bethesda, Page usually slept near Cordell Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue. Recently, however, Page had received a housing…
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Montgomery County residents spoke out against a zoning text amendment proposed by M-NCPPC to streamline approval for accessory apartments.
Montgomery County residents turned out in force at two public meetings on Monday to express concerns about a proposed rule change that would eliminate the special exception process for some accessory apartments, also known as “mother-in-law” apartments. The zoning text amendment proposed by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission staff would allow, by right, “attached” accessory apartments of up to 1,200 square feet that are located in certain residential and agricultural zones, and “detached” accessory apartments in specific residential zones. (See the zoning text amendment draft online for more details.) Many residents objected, arguing that the special exception proceedings keep them informed and involved in the process…
Monday, May 7, 2012
At a housing summit Monday, local and federal officials recognized the need for more affordable housing in Montgomery County.
Nearly 26,500 people in Montgomery County are waiting for assistance to receive a housing voucher or placement in public housing, according to officials who spoke Monday at the Affordable Housing Summit of Montgomery County. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also reported that there are more than 700 homeless veterans living in the DC metro region. The numbers are only expected to grow as nearly a million veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to officials. The Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly known as Section 8, allow for low-income residents to find affordable housing in the private sector, while public housing is run by the Housing Opportunities Commission and funded by taxpayer dollars. Montgomery …
Kim Cooke
8:05 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Well said, Mr. Hydorn. more ›