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February 2024 Monthly Newsletter

The Neighborhood Monthly eNewsletter – February 2024

This year, MHP is celebrating 35 years! On Jan 11, 1989, MHP was incorporated and shortly thereafter Norman Christeller, just retiring as chair of the Planning Board, agreed to serve as the first president. The first Board of Directors was chaired by Bill Murry and included members of the River Road Unitarian Church and prominent homebuilders Tony and Tom Natelli. In 1991, Norm moved to chair of the board and Tad Baldwin, a housing consultant, was asked to become president. A caring collaboration was born!

From 1990 to the present, MHP has continued its mission of preserving and expanding quality affordable housing in our region. Our supportive programs have also expanded to meet the needs of our residents and help local businesses.

For the last 35 years, we’ve been housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods. With your support, we’ll be around for many more.

Housing People

Progress at Forest Glen

Construction continues at The Residences at Forest Glen. Site preparation and foundation work are complete, and building envelope work is now underway. Buildings one and two are being framed and will soon be enclosed with roofing, siding, and other exterior elements.

Neighbors and visitors passing by can view significant construction progress on this multi-family property. We look forward to bringing 189 new affordable apartments to the Silver Spring community. The project will be completed by spring 2025.

 

Thought Leadership in Affordable Housing

MHP leads the way in advocacy for preserving and expanding access to quality affordable housing in our region. Read more about MHP President Robert A. Goldman’s perspective on building affordable housing on church land in Montgomery County.

 

“The need for affordable housing is great. Much of the county is already built out, so finding opportunities for land like this…is a wonderful opportunity.”

– MHP President, Robert A. Goldman

Empowering Families

 

Emeli’s Take on Giving Back

MHP Community Life Program Manager Emeli Oliva was recently featured on a WJLA Helping Hands segment. She shared how growing up in an MHP property helps her connect with her own students.

“I am the story of how it is, and I tell the kids I work with that I used to be one of you guys,” Emeli said.

Oliva understands first-hand what her students experience. She has shared some of the same challenges and joys and this keeps her connected to their success. Watch the video here.

Angels for Children Toy Drive – 25 Years of Magic

For the 25th year, the Angels for Children Toy Drive brought gifts to hundreds of affordable housing residents in the Wheaton community. Here are a few highlights from this magical endeavor. Thank you to the many businesses, organizations, families, and individuals who collected gifts, helped with wrapping, and made donations. We could not have done this without all of you!

Strengthening Neighborhoods

 

Long Branch Flower Theatre Relighting

Flower Theatre illuminated the Long Branch neighborhood at our recent relighting event which attracted more than 125 people. The façade renovation is now complete and MHP hopes to build interest in funding and renovating the interior of this beloved venue.

The event was organized by Discover Long Branch and featured speakers including Project Manager Amee Bearne, Councilmember Kate Stewart, Councilmember Evan Glass, Councilmember Will Jawando, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, MHP President Robert A. Goldman, MHP Director of Policy and Neighborhood Development Chris Gillis, and more.

Many partners were thanked, including Donohoe Construction, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Montgomery County Department of Housing & Community Affairs, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Cafritz Foundation and MHP.

 

Lyttonsville Highlight

What is Lyttonsville? This Silver Spring neighborhood was established in the 1850s and it has a rich history and many business offerings. It is also centrally located with varied transit options and will be home to a Purple Line stop in 2027.

Last year, MHP acquired Rollingwood Apartments in Lyttonsville and we’ve been working to develop connections with our residents there, including free backpack distributions, toy drives, and social gatherings.

Now, we’re excited to announce that Discover Lyttonsville has been established with the tagline Doers+Makers+More. Learn more about this effort to strengthen the community and local business district at https://discoverlyttonsville.com/

MHP receives funding through Montgomery County’s Placed-Based Management program that assists with economic development and tourism in business districts and in urban corridors with significant business and retail offerings.

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January 2024 Monthly Newsletter

The Neighborhood Monthly eNewsletter – January 2024

2023 was a highly productive year at MHP. Thanks to our dedicated staff, partners, and supporters, we met or exceeded many of our goals, expanded access to affordable housing, enhanced our supportive programs, and remained a strong presence in the community of Montgomery County and beyond. Given the high cost of living in our region coupled with inflation, we responded to the varied needs of our residents, providing a wide range of services and resources, helping families living on low and moderate incomes. We’re proud to provide quality affordable housing for more than 4,000 people and remain committed to our mission of housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods.

Here are some highlights from 2023:

Housing People

  • 189 apartments – Residences at Forest Glen financial close, demolition, groundbreaking, and construction progress
  • 395 apartments – Worthington Woods financial close, groundbreaking, progress on renovations
  • 78 apartments – N Frederick financial close, renovations coming in 2024
  • 96 apartments – Colonnade at the Creek renovations and ribbon cutting
  • Nebel Street Site Plan – All entitlements received, all funding including 9 and 4 percent tax credits awarded, and application for building permits was made
  • Amherst Square / Wheaton Arts – Sketch Plan approved

Empowering Families

  • Increased overall student enrollment, serving 400+ children in 2023
  • Expanded outreach efforts to Rollingwood Apartments, including a community celebration where we distributed more than 140 backpacks and supply gift cards
  • Partnered with Empowering the Ages, providing mentoring for FLOW middle school students
  • Provided arts and nature programming in partnership with Nature Forward and Washington Conservatory of Music
  • Achieved 82% attendance at Amherst/Pembridge GATOR Club
  • Achieved 100% parent satisfaction rate for GATOR Club

Strengthening Neighborhoods

  • Launched free scholarship portal for MHP residents, with more than 10 categories of scholarships targeting the community’s demographics
  • Grew number of recipients at Gilbert Highlands monthly food distribution and oversaw new food distribution efforts at Great Hope Homes and Amherst/Pembridge
  • Oversaw distribution of over $56,000 in fire relief funds
  • Provided Community Health Worker training for a second MHP resident engagement specialist
  • Hosted 11 events in Long Branch, including new Cuts 4 Cuties event which provided free haircuts to almost 80 kids in time for back to school
  • Led group of Worthington Woods residents to NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute
  • Led restoration of Flower Theatre façade, including placing the iconic Flower neon sign that adorns the top of the theater, relighting the marquee, restoring the ticket booth, and more
  • Held first Apartment Assistance Program landlord seminar in three years with the highest number of attendees in AAP history

 

 

 

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MHP Director of Policy and Neighborhood Development Addresses Affordable Housing Webinar

MHP Director of Policy and Neighborhood Development, Chris Gillis, recently participated in a webinar on affordable and attainable housing in Montgomery County. Gillis joined three other industry experts in a webinar organized by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery Country Maryland (LWVMOCOMD). Gillis said MHP, as the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in Montgomery County, has grown leaps and bounds over the years, currently managing about 3,000 apartment units, largely thanks to policy changes and funding by Montgomery County. He said within the last 18 months, MHP has grown its portfolio by about 500-600 units in Montgomery County. Gillis acknowledged the inroads Montgomery County has made in addressing affordable housing especially in the last four years, using the opportunity to encourage the state and federal governments to play a greater role in affordable housing.  

MHP serves more than 4,000 residents in Montgomery County and neighboring communities, providing nearly 3,000 quality affordable homes. Watch the rest of the webinar here: Affordable and Attainable Housing in Montgomery County: Are We Making Progress? (youtube.com). Gillis’ remarks start at 27-52 secs. 

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MHP President Testifies in MoCo Council Hearing on Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment

MHP President Robert Goldman recently testified during the Montgomery County Council public hearing on the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment.  Goldman informed the Council that MHP is one of the largest property owners within the master plan boundaries, owing five separate properties comprising over 400 homes. He said most of these properties are located along Maple Avenue. “At present, MHP has no foreseeable plans to redevelop any of our for-profit properties in the Maple Avenue District. Some properties such as our 7610 Maple apartment community have been renovated within the last decade while others will be renovated in the coming years like our Franklin Seniors apartment building,” he informed. Goldman said MHP generally supports the recommendation in the affordable housing section of the plan. “We especially support the language seeking to increase the amount of new affordable housing, prioritizing two- and three-bedroom MPDUs and the inclusion of language encouraging developers and private residential lots to partner with nonprofit affordable housing providers to reach deeper levels of affordability,” he said. Watch the entire hearing here: Jan. 25, 2024 – Public Hearing – Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment (youtube.com). Mr. Goldman’s testimony starts at: 1:30 mins.

MHP serves more than 4,000 residents in Montgomery County and neighboring communities, providing nearly 3,000 quality affordable homes. Since 1989, MHP has been preserving and expanding access to quality affordable housing. MHP is a private nonprofit that accomplishes its mission by housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods. 

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Housing People

Empowering Families

Strengthening Neighborhoods