Duncan Calls for Additional Affordable Senior Housing

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Contact: David Weaver, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2000

Duncan Calls for Additional
Affordable Senior Housing

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today spoke out in support of three senior housing projects and vowed to place affordable senior citizen housing high on his priority list, as part of a comprehensive review of the County's housing policy. He was joined by members of the Commission on Aging and the Action in Montgomery (AIM) group, as well as senior citizen advocates who support the need for additional affordable senior housing in the County.

"Having access to affordable housing is key to living independently and remaining a productive member of the community," said Duncan. "And, I can think of no better way to say 'thank you' to my parents' generation than to make living in Montgomery County affordable for those who worked so hard and sacrificed so much."

The three new projects supported by Duncan include the Hampshire Village project, which is situated on more than 13 acres at the northwest corner of New Hampshire Avenue and Norwood Road in the Cloverly area. This project is currently scheduled for approval by the Montgomery County Council for water/sewer hookup. The second project is the Newbridge Drive site, located approximately one-quarter mile north of River Road, across from the German School. A special exception request will be submitted to the Board of Appeals in the near future. The final site is the Andrew-Kim House, located at the corner of Old Baltimore Road and Route 108 in Olney. This site is currently pending special exception approval before the Board of Appeals.

The County's Department of Housing and Community Affairs is in the process of seeking comments on the draft of a new housing policy for Montgomery County. The policy will replace the County's current policy adopted in 1981. This draft focuses on affordable housing production and on the maintenance and improvement of the County's existing communities. The new housing policy - which is expected to be adopted in the fall of 2000 - will provide guidance on the County's existing housing program and will make recommendations for new initiatives.

"As part of an overall review of our County's housing policy, I am recommending that we place affordable senior housing high on the priority action list," said Duncan. Specifically, Duncan pledged his commitment to the future construction of an additional 200 affordable senior housing units per year. Currently 11.5 percent of the County's population is 65 years of age and older. However, that number is projected to increase to 25 percent over the next 30 years.

Duncan also pledged his support for a change in the zoning law to allow additional senior housing to be considered a "permitted use" under the County's zoning laws. Currently, most new senior housing projects require a special exception and approval by a "super majority" vote of the Board of Appeals.

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