New Multi-Family Housing and Vibrant Main Streets Highlighted in DHCD Day Trip to Montgomery County

Silver Spring, Rockville, Takoma Park, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, and Long Branch on display during two-day tour

ROCKVILLE, Md. – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day made several visits in Montgomery County this week during the latest stop in DHCD’s Day Trip tour across the state.

Secretary Day, along with DHCD senior staff, spent Monday and Tuesday visiting Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and Takoma Park, allowing the department to hear directly from community leaders and see the progress of projects DHCD has invested in over the years. It was the 15th stop in DHCD’s Day Trip series, which started in Frederick County in September 2023.

In a span from Fiscal Year 2020-24, DHCD invested more than $776.4 million to provide affordable housing, revitalize neighborhoods and community businesses, improve internet services and support homeless services in Montgomery County.

“The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Montgomery County to provide affordable housing and create lovable and vibrant cities,” said Secretary Jake Day. “Meeting with county and municipal officials and hearing their priorities first-hand this week strengthens these important partnerships and will ensure Montgomery County continues to be successful.”

“I appreciate Secretary Day taking the time to tour Montgomery County and get a first-hand look at the projects we’re working on to increase the supply of housing, especially affordable housing, and to support communities,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We’ve been able to use County and State funding to build quality affordable housing, but the real challenge is preserving affordable units across the County, especially for working families, seniors, and young people. Tours like this help the Moore-Miller administration see what’s happening on the ground so we can build solutions that truly meet the needs of our residents.”

“We are honored that Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day joined us to see firsthand some of the successful affordable housing and mixed-use communities we have here in Montgomery County. We are grateful to Governor Moore, Secretary Day, and their teams for prioritizing the serious housing issues facing our residents,” said Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson. “As a former Mayor himself, Secretary Day understands the challenges of local jurisdictions and is uniquely positioned to lead at the state level and partner with us locally to address our current housing crisis.”

Throughout the two-day visit, Secretary Day and DHCD officials visited multifamily housing projects throughout Montgomery County, several of which were supported by the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, which DHCD administers. The tax credit subsidizes the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income tenants.

The tour also stopped at the Flower Theater in Silver Spring. The site celebrated the completion of facade repairs in February that restored it closer to its original appearance when it opened in 1950. DHCD announced this summer that the site was awarded a Project Restore 2.0 grant to improve the interior of the theater. 

In addition to visits to Takoma Park, Rockville, Bethesda and Gaithersburg, Secretary Day met with the Montgomery County Council, municipal leaders and other community members during the two-day tour. During a meeting with the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday, Secretary Day presented a ceremonial check celebrating its financial support to the county and its municipalities in 2024.

Photos from the tour can be found here.

The DHCD Day Trip tour will continue in October in Carroll County.