Update on Potomac Oaks Fire Fund

More than $116,000 in funds have been distributed to families affected by the catastrophic November 26 explosion and fire at the Potomac Oaks Condominium in Gaithersburg through a collaborative effort involving governmental agencies and nonprofits, including MHP.

The dedicated relief fund, which totals more than $138,000 thanks to generous donors, is being managed by MHP. One hundred percent of donations are going to affected families to cover costs and damage resulting from the explosion/fire.

MHP anticipates closing the Potomac Oaks relief fund by the end of February. Those interested in contributing to the fund should complete their donations by February 28.

You can donate here.

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Discover Long Branch Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Mural in Silver Spring

CELEBRATING LONG BRANCH GATEWAY MURAL

Discover Long Branch Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Mural in Silver Spring

The Long Branch community celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 20 adjacent to El Golfo restaurant. The event was attended by community and governmental leaders, including Maryland Del. Lorig Charkoudian, County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Will Jawando, and Bill Tompkins, president/CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, which funded the project.

The new addition to the neighborhood represents a continuation of MHP’s commitment to working with the vibrant Long Branch community to create a strong sense of place centered on the diverse business district and surrounding residential communities.

The mural was designed by artist Peter Krsko and implemented by Schwa Design Group.

The design is as an extension of the beloved toucan mural already on the El Golfo building. The bird is now hanging out in the jungle treetops backed against a blue sky. The mural serves as a gateway declaring that the area is “Long Branch,” further defining and strengthening the community’s visual identity.

Learn more about Long Branch neighborhood development and events here.

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MHP acquires Rollingwood Apartments, preserves affordable housing along Purple Line with support from Amazon, Montgomery County

Silver Spring, MD (January 19, 2023) – MHP today announced it has acquired Rollingwood Apartments, preserving 283 units of critically needed affordable housing that was at risk of being lost, along the future Purple Line in Montgomery County. The Amazon Housing Equity Fund’s (Amazon) $28 million below market loan and financial support from Montgomery County played an instrumental role in this transaction.

Located near a Purple Line stop, Rollingwood is home to existing quality, affordable multi-family housing in a central location with extensive transit access. This acquisition furthers MHP’s mission to preserve and expand affordable housing along the Purple Line and other transit lines, which is also a top priority for Montgomery County and Amazon. Rollingwood represents an important milestone in MHP’s Purple Line strategy, protecting residents from anticipated rising rents that could cause widespread displacement.  MHP has now preserved or created more than 1,100 apartment units along this path.

“We are thrilled to collaborate across sectors to protect existing residents and businesses from the potential displacement associated with the development of the Purple Line, ensuring that every person has access to the economic opportunity that this development brings” said MHP President Robert A. Goldman. “Rollingwood provides a new opportunity for MHP to preserve existing affordable housing and support all residents, furthering equity in our region.”

MHP plans to restrict 100% of units for residents earning at or below 70% of area median income (AMI), with 5% of units restricted to those earning at or below 30% AMI, 20% of units restricted at or below 50% AMI, and 50% of units restricted at or below 60% AMI.

Built in 1963, Rollingwood spans 13.96 acres in the Lyttonsville neighborhood of Silver Spring, an area with a unique history as one of the first Black communities in Montgomery County. Located at the convergence of Downtown Silver Spring and Downtown Bethesda, MD, Lyttonsville has easy access to the District of Columbia via connections with the Metro’s Red, Green, and Orange Lines, and is within walking distance of the future Purple Line Lyttonsville Metro Station, anticipated to open in 2027.

Rollingwood is a continuation of MHP’s work in Lyttonsville, which has recently included managing funds for the Friendly Garden Apartments fire relief effort and a variety of small business and community development initiatives.

This acquisition was made possible through the investment of many funding partners including Montgomery County, National Housing Trust, Amazon, Merchants Bank, MRK partners, and SKS Real Estate Partners.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to support MHP as they keep the Rollingwood Apartments affordable for the Silver Spring community,” said Catherine Buell, director of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund. “Preservation is one of the most effective ways to ensure access to affordable housing, and through this effort, residents will be able to remain in their communities as their transit resources grow.”

This is MHP’s third partnership with Amazon. MHP’s Residences at Forest Glen project was selected by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) to receive $75,000 in grant funds from the Housing Affordability Planning Program, which is administered by COG and backed by Amazon to advance initiatives to build affordable housing in transit-oriented communities. MHP also received a $2.2 million grant from Amazon to support the ground-up development of its Nebel Street property in North Bethesda, MD.

 

ABOUT MHP

At MHP, we are dedicated to making home possible. Since 1989, MHP has been preserving and expanding access to quality affordable housing. MHP is a private nonprofit that provides more than 2,800 homes in Montgomery County, MD, and surrounding communities. We accomplish our mission by housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods.  Learn more at mhpartners.org

ABOUT AMAZON HOUSING EQUITY FUND

The Amazon Housing Equity Fund has committed to create or preserve more than 10,000 affordable homes across the company’s hometown communities so far. Amazon’s commitment focuses on low-to-moderate income individuals and families, representing first responders, teachers, and service industry employees whose wages haven’t kept pace with escalating rents. To learn more about the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, click here.

 

Download Media Release

 

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A Successful Year

Thanks to the support of the community, 2022 was a year of growth and high impact for all of MHP’s programs. We served more students and families, expanded our portfolio of quality, affordable housing, completed major renovations at properties, and helped address many pressing community needs like food insecurity.

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WJLA, Easterns Donate To Help Those Affected by Gaithersburg Explosion

As part of WJLA’s Helping Hands program, Easterns Automotive presented MHP President Robert A. Goldman with a $2,200 donation to assist families affected by the explosion and fire at the Potomac Oaks Condominiums in Gaithersburg. All of the funds will go directly to impacted families.

Watch here.

You can contribute to help these families here.

 

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MHP Collects Funds for Families Affected by Gaithersburg Fire

At the request of Montgomery County, MHP is collecting financial donations to assist those affected by the explosion and fire at a condominium complex on Quince Orchard Boulevard in Gaithersburg. Read more in this coverage on the MoCo Show website here.

Learn how you can support this effort here.

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MHP Projects Awarded State Revitalization Funds

Two MHP projects were selected by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to receive a total of $950,000 in restricted state revitalization funding as part of the National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund.  

 MHP’s Nebel Street Apartments project, is being awarded $750,000 to support the creation of a pocket park, nature overlook, and public plaza in conjunction with the Nebel Street affordable housing development in North Bethesda, increasing equitable access to safe green spaces. 

 The second award will provide $200,000 in pre-development support for the Amherst Affordable Housing Development in Wheaton, enabling MHP to convert the property from 125 units into 250-350 units, more than doubling its capacity.  

Read more here.

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Long Branch 5K is Back!

Join us for the Long Branch 5K on Sunday, Nov. 20. The run/walk begins at 8am at Garland Neighborhood Park, 8601 Garland Ave., Silver Spring. Same-day registration and packet pickup will be available starting at 7am at the Long Branch Community Center.

This fun community event is co-sponsored by MHP, Discover Long Branch, Long Branch Business League, and the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Learn more here.

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MHP Nebel Street Apartments Awarded 9% State Tax Credits

(Silver Spring, MD)   MHP’s Nebel Street Apartments project was recently awarded 9% tax credit funds through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2022 9% application round for federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and state Rental Housing Funds.

Through a competitive application process, Nebel Street Apartments was selected to receive twinned 9% and 4% tax credit awards, the only project in Montgomery County to receive such funding in this application round. This will enable MHP to advance the project with greater financial stability and deeper affordability with10% of units reserved for families making no more than 30% of area median income.

The Nebel Street Apartments will be an asset to the community, providing affordable housing in a fast-growing, convenient area near transit in North Bethesda. The property in its current form is an undeveloped parcel of land. Once complete, it will contain 163 affordable units in addition to amenities such as a community center, classrooms, onsite leasing office, pocket park, and other green spaces available to residents and the community at-large.

In addition to state funding, Nebel Street Apartments received a $2.2 million grant from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund to support deeper affordability.

Governor Larry Hogan announced nearly $32 million in awards for 12 projects as part of this competitive round, including Nebel Street Apartments. Recent state awards will result in the creation or preservation of 1,340 high quality, energy-efficient, affordable rental units throughout Maryland. Read the Governor’s press release here.

 

Read the full media release here.

 

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