Montgomery County Council discussed a bill Tuesday that aims to increase access to affordable housing by ensuring the county can effectively use the right to first refusal.
The legislation allows the county to gain control of properties and sell them to trusted community partners to avoid displacement of residents who live in affordable housing. Previously, the county had to spend millions to buy a building before selling it to tenets or a non-profit organization, according to council president Andrew Friedson.
The county’s Planning, Housing and Parks Committee recommended enactment with amendments ahead of Tuesday’s session, including a requirement that the Housing and Community Affairs send a statement of interest within 10 business days after a right of refusal offer.
Last June, the county used the right to first refusal to buy Aspen Hill apartment complex and sell it to a community partner after residents were informed of a more than 5% increase in rent. The county will more aggressively use this tool in the future to mitigate the affordable housing crisis, Friedson said.
“The nature of the conversation is really how do we find the appropriate balance from having an effective tool that is really an important for us to address preservation of affordable housing and utilize it in a way that makes sense,” Friedson said.
