In a push for affordable housing in La Plata, the Charles County commissioners approved pursuing a grant in a 3-2 split vote.
The state of Maryland, through the Department of Housing and Community Development, has solicited applications from eligible jurisdictions to apply for funding under the Community Development Special Projects.
The resolution the commissioners put through authorized the submittal of an application to procure funds, not to exceed $800,000, to procure land for an affordable housing development at the intersection of Oriole Lane and Magnolia Drive in La Plata.
Osprey Property Companies would oversee the development.
Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling (D) and Commissioner Amanda Stewart (D) voted against seeking the funding after vocalizing that this specific affordable housing might not serve the people who need it the most.
“For me, and what I’m hearing from the community, is that we’re missing that group of people, that have kids, or they’re single … and they’re out here working but they can’t afford the rent on an apartment in Charles County, they can’t afford to rent a house in Charles County,” Stewart said. “A first-year teacher, certified, wouldn’t be able to live in this property.”
The starting teacher salary in Charles is approximately $60,000, depending on certification.
“I have concerns,” Stewart said.
“I do believe we need more affordable housing,” Bowling said. “There’s that middle group of folks that are like teachers or county employees that are getting priced out of regular housing, but then they make too much to qualify for this housing. … They’re some of the people providing services in our community that we’re saying that need to be invested and live in our community, but they can’t afford to live here.”
Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II (D) said that the county has a series of studies looking at the issue of affordable housing and when the numbers are actually looked at, it is inconsistent with Stewart’s and Bowling’s arguments.
“The studies are very clear, it’s on the lower end that we are really not addressing the issue at all, and it’s only in the last two or three years that we’ve even put in place projects addressing this,” Collins said.
“You’re looking at the lower income, and I’m saying what’s occurring in the county, we’re also missing helping a broad group of people that wouldn’t qualify for Section 8,” Stewart said.
Collins said that he does not disagree with Stewart, but there are different layers to the issue of affordable housing and many residents are dealing with the challenges.
“Our task should be to create a housing stock,” Collins said.
Bowling asked Tyler Grote of Osprey Property if they had gone to the town of La Plata first with the matter.
Grote said there’s a 48-unit family project and a 72-unit senior component to the development. The intent of Osprey is to follow the same process with the town for the senior side of the project.
“Can I be fair to you? What it’s going to appear perception-wise is that the county commissioners approved the subsidized housing project for the families, but the town only approved the one for the seniors,” Bowling said. “The public perception is going to be that we pushed it on the town.”
The community grant that is being requested is only one per jurisdiction, Grote explained.
Collins, Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) and Commissioner Thomasina “Sina” Coates (D) voted in favor of submitting the grant application.
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