Contact: David Weaver, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: July 3, 2001

Duncan Applauds Approval of Senior Housing Projects;
Urges Zoning Change to Expedite Building
More Affordable Housing for the Elderly

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today applauded the recent approval of three controversial affordable senior housing projects, and renewed his call for changes to the County’s zoning laws to make is easier to build more housing for the elderly.

“We must do more to ensure that those who helped make this such a great community can afford to live here for years to come,” Duncan said. “While I am pleased with the approval of these three projects, the hurdles that had to be overcome to get us to this point are simply unacceptable and we need to make it easier to provide more clean, safe and affordable housing for the elderly.”

In June 2000, Duncan spoke out in support of the three projects, Hampshire Village at Norbeck, to be located adjacent to Leisure World; the Andrew-Kim House, to be located at the corner of Old Baltimore Road and Route 108 in Olney; and Victory Terrace, to be located on Newbridge Drive in Potomac. After months of discussion, each received the necessary “special exception” approvals from the Board of Appeals, with the last project – Hampshire Village – being approved within the last two weeks. Duncan has taken issue with the fact that current County law does not allow senior housing as a “permitted use,” but rather requires the Board of Appeals to consider each project as a special exception, making it harder for these projects to gain approval.

“Senior housing should be a permitted use in this County,” Duncan said. “I have asked the Council, as part of an overall revision of the County’s Housing Policy, to consider making this change and speed up the process for bringing more elderly housing on-line.”

Victory Housing, Inc., the non-profit arm of the Archdiocese of Washington, will partner with Stavrou Associates to develop the Hampshire Village at Norbeck project, comprised of 109 independent living units and 30 assisted living units. The Andrew-Kim House will be comprised of 76 one-bedroom apartment units. Victory Terrace at Newbridge will be comprised of 72 units.