Plans for an Ellicott City apartment complex sparked much of the months-long debate over Howard?s affordable housing policies.
Ellicott Gardens, on Waterloo Road, was proposed for moderate-income senior housing, but county officials turned it into family housing to address a greater need, said Housing Director Stacy Spann. To continue the project, Howard needed to enter financing partnerships for tax credits to build housing on certain commercially zoned land.
A controversial bill before the County Council would give them that authority. Other measures authorize tax credits for the project.
Developer Jared Spahn of Old Town Construction, in Ellicott City, said a few changes to the original plan will accommodate families.
But now target renters are younger residents who may be first-time hires in the county, so smaller units are appropriate, Spahn said.
Neighborhood opposition to Ellicott Gardens appears to have waned, after a November 2006 meeting with residents who raised concerns about traffic and density.
But not all County Council members support a development of entirely affordable units as the county moves toward mixed-income developments, and raised concerns about it being mostly one-bedrooms.
“I found it unfortunate it was designed as senior housing and now it will house children,” said Councilwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1.
But the project may be too far along to make changes, council members said.
“That?s why I want to the County Council weigh in on the front end of the process. Now, we are just weighing in at the end when they are looking for tax credits,” Watson said.
AT A GLANCE
» Ellicott Gardens is a 106-unit building on 3.4 acres.
» Apartments would be rented to individuals who earn between 40 percent and 60 percent of the area median income, or between $30,320 and $45,480.
» Construction will begin in March.
Source: Howard officials and developers
