Oakland Mills Village

News and Views from the Other Barn

Created to share community news. The views expressed are mine alone.

November 11, 2013

A Message From Oakland Mills Board Chair Bill Gray

The last few weeks have been dominated by acquisition of the Verona Apartments by the County Housing Commission. I want to give you an update on this and other things that have happened in the community.

Thunder Hill Road Traffic

After much hard work by Oakland Mills residents, the County is moving ahead to install speed humps along Thunder Hill Rd., both north and south of Rt. 175. Current plans are for work to be completed by the end of the year.

Computers for Kids

On October 26^th, the Bright Minds Foundation, Oakland Mills High School and Oakland Mills Middle School collaborated to provide refurbished laptops and printers to 34 students (including 3 homeless students) from low-income Oakland Mills families who do not have a computer at home. At this very successful event, students and their parents received training on computer usage and financial management. Hopefully, these laptops will help our local students make the most of their educational opportunities.

Columbia Association

Andy Stack, the CA Board Chair gave an update to the Village Board on CA activities. He stressed efforts to improve communications between CA and the Village Boards and talked about some of the CA's current plans such as the new path signage that is being piloted around Wilde Lake.

Verona Apartments

The Village Board has been negotiating with County officials on their plans for the Verona Apartments that were recently purchased by the County Housing Commission. Although we are very concerned about the potential for substantial increases in subsidized housing around the Village Center, we have consistently stressed that our community fully supports diversity - economic, cultural and racial diversity. We celebrate our diversity through our events and festivals

and support our less advantaged residents through food drives, backpacks for kids, computers for kids, donations and countless volunteer hours. Most of us moved here because we want to live in an economically, culturally and racially diverse community. However, at some point, when poverty is concentrated in a community, it outstrips the community's ability to cope effectively and we are already seeing that in our schools, safety and infrastructure. We are concerned about the concentration of subsidized housing in our community, and a very few others, instead of it being scattered throughout the County.

Now that they've purchased the Verona Apartments, the county has a direct stake in the financial viability of our community. Let's hold them to that. We want to see investment in Oakland Mills that increases community vitality. We want to see improved ties between Oakland Mills and the new facilities at the lakefront, Symphony Woods and Town Center. We want to see improvements to our Village Center and surroundings, particularly the replacement of vacant lots and stores. And, we want to see improved safety for our residents and schools that fully meet the needs of our children.

In light of this, we have been concerned about the County's plans for the Verona Apartments and how they will contribute to community revitalization. Over the last few weeks, I believe that we have made progress in our discussions with the county. The County's plans center around two distinct time frames: 1) the next 10 years and 2) after the initial 10 years:

Over the next 10 years:

The county plans to manage the apartments much as they have been, and will be making some improvements that will benefit the residents and the community:

They will keep the current management for at least the next year.
Currently, 15% of the 251 apartment units have Section 8 vouchers. Communities can legally limit the total number of Section 8 vouchers accepted to 20% of the units. The County has agreed to do this.
Rents will not be reduced but instead will increase slightly (current residents will not be affected.)
The County will coordinate enhanced security with the neighboring properties to improve safety in the area (they are meeting with other apartment complex managers on 11/11 to begin arranging this.)
The County has committed to no redevelopment or density increases for at least 10 years.
They will maintain the property well and make improvements including landscaping. They are also pursuing additional improvements in the community.
They are evaluating connections between Oakland Mills and downtown Columbia, including Bridge Columbia.
They are developing plans to insure reinvestment in the aging single-family housing stock in Oakland Mills and ensure opportunities for hospital employees, firefighters, teachers and police to purchase or rent in our community.

After 10 years:

The County expects to obtain federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits to redevelop the Verona Apartments. They would replace the current complex with a modern, multi-income complex where density may be significantly increased and the percentage of below-market rate housing would rise to 40%. The remaining units would be at market rate or above. Forest Ridge, the fully subsidized complex next to the Verona Apartments would not change.

The Village Board remains very concerned that increasing subsidized housing in our community continues the trend of concentrating subsidized housing in a few County locations, which will further overwhelm the community's ability to provide the resources to cope. We will continue to negotiate with the County to address the community's concerns.

So far, the County has promised that:

Rents for the rent-restricted portion of the new complex would be set at the Moderate Income Housing level, not low or very low.
The County will target their marketing outreach to groups such as hospital employees, community college workers, teachers, firefighters, police and other County workers.
No development will go forward until the County conducts a study to assess the impacts of this new development on schools, safety and traffic, and develops effective strategies to deal with these impacts.
Although we were stunned by the lack of notification of the County's intention to buy the Verona Apartments, the County has now committed to a public process with extensive community input. Our community must come together to make sure that happens.

The Village Board has set up a community meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7:30pm at the Other Barn to meet with County officials to hear more about their plans and to give the community an opportunity to ask questions and express their opinions. In preparation for the community meeting, on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1pm, the County will be hosting a Walking Tour of the Verona Apartments and surroundings. They will also transport people for a tour of the Monarch Mills Apartments, upon which the County is modeling some of their plans. I encourage you to attend these meetings. Our community needs to make sure that our voice is clearly heard by our County officials.

Upcoming Board Meeting

Tuesday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.
at The Other Barn (main level meeting room)
link to Board Agenda

Discussion with CA regarding splash pad for Talbott Springs Pool
Board Discussion Verona Apartments (no County officials/administrators have been invited, however, it is a public board meeting so we do know in advance who may or may not attend.
Board Strategic Plan updates
CA Report, Staff and Committee Reports

Tuesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.
at The Other Barn (Loft)

Community Meeting to discuss the Verona Apartments. County officials/administrators will be in attendance to address the community.

Tuesday, November 26

A decision has not been made as to whether or not this meeting will be held

Oakland Mills Board Contact Information Link HERE.

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