Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joined nonprofit housing developer Mission First Housing, and community leaders in Wheaton on Thursday for a “topping off” celebration to mark a significant milestone in the construction of a new, 90-unit senior housing development at 1910 University Blvd. The affordable housing development, which received financing from the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) and from the State of Maryland, is being built on the former parking lot of the Har Tzeon–Agudath Achim synagogue.  

“To maintain an Age-Friendly Montgomery County, we need to build affordable housing that gives older residents more choice about where to live, provides good access to transportation, and connects seniors to community resources,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I’m pleased that Montgomery County provided critical funding for Mission First Housing to build this much-needed senior housing right in the heart of downtown Wheaton. And I’m especially glad we are building it in close partnership with the local community, particularly Congregation Har Tzeon–Agudath Achim. This project shows how we can create new housing in the University Boulevard corridor that meets the needs of area residents while working hand in hand with community members, including our faith communities.” 

The project is a four-story apartment building that features a mix of 78 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom apartments, all of which are affordable for households with incomes between 30% and 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The building will feature an on-site management office, fitness room, club room with a raised patio, laundry lounges on each floor, and an outdoor terrace. It is located approximately one mile from the Wheaton Metro station and near the various retail, dining, community resources, and other amenities of downtown Wheaton.  

DHCA provided financing for 1910 University Senior Apartments in the form of an interim $3.95 million acquisition loan from the Housing Initiative Fund (HIF) in January 2025, followed by an additional $4 million construction loan using HIF Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds. The County’s investment in this development also includes a “by right” Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement, which provides tax breaks in exchange for the development or preservation of affordable housing. In addition to County funds, the project’s total development cost of $41.7 million is supported by 4% tax credits from the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, tax-exempt bonds, state loans, and private lending from Truist and National Housing Trust. 

“1910 University Senior Apartments helps provide a place for the seniors of Montgomery County to affordably age-in-place in a community that is accessible to downtown Wheaton amenities,” said Sarah Constant, senior vice president of real estate development for Mission First Housing Group. “As the population ages, it is important to keep in mind that there is an overwhelming need for affordable housing for residents 62 and older. Mission First is happy to be part of the efforts in Montgomery County and Maryland to provide new, high-quality, stable housing for local seniors.” 

The County financing for 1910 University Senior Apartments is part of the approximately $108.3 million DHCA invested to support the creation or preservation of more than 1,800 housing units in Fiscal Year 2025. Through the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, the County has invested more than $24.2 million to create or preserve 462 affordable units. 

The 1910 University Senior Housing development was made possible through a partnership with the Congregation Har Tzeon–Agudath Achim. The new housing development is being built on a formerly underutilized parking lot adjacent to the synagogue. Along with building the new housing development, Mission First will create a new public multi-use path through the site, providing connectivity to downtown Wheaton for the community. 

“Older adult renters in Montgomery County face disproportionately high housing cost burdens compared to the broader renter population. Among renters aged 65 and older, two-thirds spent more than 30% of their income on housing, compared with just over half of renters countywide,” said DHCA Director Scott Bruton. “DHCA’s investment in 1910 University Senior Apartments reflects the County’s commitment to creating and maintaining a range of housing choices for older residents.” 

Montgomery County is celebrating 10 years since it joined the World Health Organization and AARP’s Age-Friendly Communities Network. Throughout December, Age Friendly Montgomery is hosting a series of virtual and in-person listening sessions to gather feedback on the needs of older residents in the County across various issues, including housing, health and wellness, home and community-based services, transportation, and mobility.  

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