County planners tackle lack of affordable housing in Bethesda
Officials in Bethesda are planning to bring the cost of renting a home in line with the rest of Montgomery County, using a two-pronged strategy in an effort to achieve this.
First, they plan to increase the number of units in new construction that are designated for those of lower incomes. Secondly, they want to help owners renovate aging buildings.
The master plan for the city is known as the Bethesda Downtown Plan, and it will dictate land-use policies and zoning decisions for the next 30 years. According to Leslye Howerton, who is manager and planner of the plan, Bethesda offers a lot of jobs, but sometimes people who work downtown cannot afford to live there. Without cars, they depend on public transportation, so affordable living downtown is very important.
At the next Planning Board meeting, Howerton plans to recommend increasing the number of units in new residential projects from 12.5% to 15%.
In addition, there are approximately 2,000 units in the city's downtown that are “naturally affordable”, meaning the rent, plus what the tenants pay in utilities, is less than 30% of the income of the household. Planners hope to designate some of these units as “priority sending sites”, which would allow owners to sell them to developers and use the money to renovate older buildings.
Planners might want to work with a flyer printing company to create a mailer for Bethesda residents discussing these measures.
First, they plan to increase the number of units in new construction that are designated for those of lower incomes. Secondly, they want to help owners renovate aging buildings.
The master plan for the city is known as the Bethesda Downtown Plan, and it will dictate land-use policies and zoning decisions for the next 30 years. According to Leslye Howerton, who is manager and planner of the plan, Bethesda offers a lot of jobs, but sometimes people who work downtown cannot afford to live there. Without cars, they depend on public transportation, so affordable living downtown is very important.
At the next Planning Board meeting, Howerton plans to recommend increasing the number of units in new residential projects from 12.5% to 15%.
In addition, there are approximately 2,000 units in the city's downtown that are “naturally affordable”, meaning the rent, plus what the tenants pay in utilities, is less than 30% of the income of the household. Planners hope to designate some of these units as “priority sending sites”, which would allow owners to sell them to developers and use the money to renovate older buildings.
Planners might want to work with a flyer printing company to create a mailer for Bethesda residents discussing these measures.