Affordable housing became a catch-phrase in Montgomery County during 2006.
Ike Leggett, in his bid to become county executive, used it when he talked about deficiencies in publicly funded projects. County Council members batted the term back and forth in discussing growth strategies.And, now, as 2007 begins, plans will take root to make affordable housing a reality in a county known for its intelligent and often high-earning residents.
According to Lisa Rother, a planning manager with the county executive’s office, the development of housing units cost-efficient enough to keep county employees living in the county is a top priority.
“We’re getting ready to talk about a lot of things in that area,” she told The Examiner.
The first of these discussions should take place in January when the council’s housing and economic development-oriented committee will hold a special work session.
Also of paramount importance is working out the details of a proposal passed in the fall that will require developers building housing subdivisions near Metro stations to make 10 percent of the units low-income or affordable housing units.
At this point, it’s hard to say how many affordable housing units that will translate to, Rother said.
But the belief is that it will be a planned way of incorporating these units in the future.
Really, there has not been a concentrated effort to build work force or affordable homes countywide. Strides have been made in Bethesda, for example, and Montgomery County used $21 million to fix up a host of older units and build some less-costly new ones in 2006, she added.
“The need continues to be there,” Rother said. “It’s hard for a lot of employees to be able to afford living in the county.”
