Comments on: Affordable housing is new focal point in Falkland Chase debate

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:05:49 +0000

Terry in SS is spot-on. Despite the addition of thousands of housing units in DTSS in recent years, rents continue to climb. Landlords demand high rents regardless of the number of units on the market, just because they CAN, because SS has revitalized and has become desirable. The county’s rent cap, by the way, is not mandatory, it’s just a guideline, which many many landlords disregard. The real problem in the affordable housing crisis is the affordable units being lost as rents accelerate. A relative handful of requisite MPDUs in the proposed Falkland development will not even scratch the surface of a solution.
Jennifer, I think you mean there are no Workforce Housing PROGRAM units in downtown SS. There ARE units affordable to people who would qualify for workforce, and current apartments at Falkland fit that description.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:26:44 +0000

Hi, Corona! You make some good points. Now that the real estate boom has gone bust for the moment, it is time to rethink “Smart Growth.” The New York Times has a blog called “saving the suburbs” with provocative articles followed by zillions of comments.

The “let’s take a small-scale neighborhood with trees, wipe it out and put a hi-rise there” is just the latest twist on bad old urban renewal. People want to live near trees.
And those trees can be a source of jobs. All those “jobs” generated by refinancing real estate are not coming back. I say levy high tax rates on millionaires, and fund lot of Earth Conservation Corps positions. Trees in parks and along strees need maintenance, and they are getting very little.

By: Corona

Corona — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:38:47 +0000

It’s a good proposal LMH, but ultimately it would probably fall on deaf ears. It seems that with the economy in the tank right now, developers are looking towards projects in established areas (Downtown Silver Spring, next to the metro, ie: Falkland Chase) instead of the sort of “start from scratch, redevelop a whole area” project that would be the Glenmont area. Less risk involved, I guess. That’s the main reason why the Harris Teeter would be going in in the Falklands and not in say, the Ripley District.

By: tj

tj — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:09:12 +0000

Actually, one does not need to cross Colesville Rd to get to the Metro form Falkland North. There is an entrance to the Metro next to the Starbucks.

By: Woodsider

Woodsider — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:42:34 +0000

Mean street crossings? From the Falkland’s north parcel (the one up for re-development), pedestrians have to cross only Colesville Road.

By: carlos

carlos — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:54:50 +0000

thank you JD for the info very helpful.

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:36:10 +0000

Getting to SS Metro from Falkland North, site of proposed redevelopment, involves zero street crossings.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:32:05 +0000

Speaking of the Glenmont Metro, there is a shopping center just south of it (5-min walk) that looks like a great spot for “transit-oriented development.” It has the MTA Express, a nice CVS & Staples, and a small dance studio & a small martial arts studio. Surely those could be saved, and the place redeveloped with a few stories of housing on top that would include WF housing.
Bulldozing any part of Falkland Chase is crazy. Whack the grubby, pothol-y asphalt in Glenmont, not the beautiful trees and small-scale buildings at the Falklands. By the way, getting to SS Metro from the Falklands involves some mean street crossings. Glenmont is better.

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:05:46 +0000

Montgomery County has two programs that fall under the "affordable housing" umbrella: moderately priced dwelling units (MPDU) and workforce housing (WF). To qualify for MPDU rental housing, the county says you've gotta make the following income:

minimum annual household income: $30,000
maximum annual household income: $45,000 for one person, up to $69,500 for five people

To learn more, click here. To qualify for WF housing, the county says you've gotta make the following income:

maximum annual household income: $83,000 for one person, up to $128,500 for five or more people

To learn more, click here. Currently, the downtown Silver Spring area has no WF housing units.

By: carlos

carlos — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:02:09 +0000

What price range is considered affordable housing? I keep hearing the words “affordable housing” but exactly how much does it mean?
I remember reading that Falkland would have the 12.5% MPDU’s + workforce housing. Again, what is the price range for MPDU’s and what is the price range for workforce housing.
I’m hoping someone has an answer.