The misplaced priorities of some affordable housing advocates

One of the major priorities for the state government and Baltimore County is to provide more affordable housing.

Government at all levels should certainly encourage a diversity of housing options.

Unlike many jurisdictions, Baltimore County does not build and operate its own housing; the county has historically provided tax credits and other incentives to developers.

I certainly support lending a helping hand to our most vulnerable residents and promoting home ownership wherever possible.

Unfortunately, over the past decade, we have seen certain housing advocates and groups make demands that are baffling and contradictory to other goals of government.

I represented Towson on the Baltimore County Council from 2010 to 2022. During that time, Homes for America proposed a multi-level affordable housing project, Red Maple Place, in one of Towson’s least affluent communities.

This project contradicted a goal by many housing advocates that units be distributed more evenly throughout communities.

Supporters of the Red Maple Place project were hostile to me and to local residents who also criticized the destruction of trees and the impact on Historic East Towson.

Governor Wes Moore has made housing affordability a major priority for his administration. Every child deserves to attend a good public school, but the Moore administration’s housing legislation originally exempted some low-income housing projects that qualify for state funding from local adequate public facilities ordinances.

Thankfully, the Maryland General Assembly seems to be addressing this misguided proposal. Delegates Ryan Nawrocki and Kathy Szeliga spoke to me frequently about this legislation.

I wish housing advocates would be more consistent with their goals.

The Belmont-Dunfield community, for example, was a focus for affordable housing during the Kamenetz Administration, but there was no consideration for recreation and other activities needed in this community.

There are also many homes that need repairs and stabilization programs underway in other communities.

Over the next few weeks, the Baltimore County Council will be moving forward with the long-awaited reform of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.

Hopefully, the development community and housing advocates will recognize that all students deserve quality schools and other resources to succeed.