Fenton Apartments, a mixed-income apartment building in downtown Silver Spring. Image by Dan Reed used with permission.

Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously recommends loosening single-family zoning restrictions

The Montgomery County Planning Board has unanimously approved the Attainable Housing Strategies Report, which will now go to the County Council for approval. The report recommends reforming the county’s zoning code to allow Missing Middle housing, such as duplexes and fourplexes, to help address the dire housing shortage.  (Tara Goldstein / Montgomery Community Media)  

Loudoun County fast-tracks approval of 80-unit affordable multifamily development

Loudoun County has approved a new 80-unit affordable multifamily housing development in Sterling. The expedited approval process took just six months, compared to the county’s typical 12- to 16-month process. Expedited approvals reduce the cost of development, and county officials hope to codify this approach to encourage more affordable housing development. (This article is behind a paywall.)  (Ben Peters / Business Journal)  

DC’s notoriously small apartments are getting (slightly) bigger

A study from RentCafe found that the average rental in DC has increased in size by five square feet thanks to new developments over the last decade, bucking the trend of shrinking units seen in Arlington and Alexandria. That said, DC’s apartments remain small: the city comes in at number seven on the list of smallest new apartments in the US.   (DC UrbanTurf)  

Fairfax County approves 33-unit supportive housing project in Fair Oaks

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a 33-unit supportive housing project in Fair Oaks proposed by Reston-based nonprofit Cornerstones. The development will include services for residents such as home health aides. Advocates point to the dire need for such housing, while some opponents suggested that the development would lead to increased crime.  (Acacia James / FFXNow)  

Construction is on schedule for 474-unit Alexandria affordable housing project

Construction on Sanse Apartments, a new 474-unit affordable housing project in Alexandria’s Arlandria neighborhood, is going well, with “vertical construction” set to begin in September. The entire development will feature units affordable to households earning 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) or less, with more than one-quarter of units set aside for very-low-income households earning 40 percent of AMI or less.  (Vernon Miles / ARLNow)  

Annapolis Housing Authority slashes summer programs

The Housing Authority of Annapolis has announced it will no longer offer certain summer resources for families in public housing due to budget cuts. These programs include a community pool and summer camps. (This article is behind a paywall.)  (Royale Bonds / Baltimore Banner)  

Police seek driver behind fatal midday hit-and-run in Southeast DC

Just after noon on Wednesday, June 12, as a 62-year-old man and his wife crossed Alabama Avenue SE in a crosswalk at Naylor Road, the driver of a white Ford Taurus plowed into them, killing the man and injuring his wife. While the car has been located, police are searching for the driver.  (Samantha Gilstrap / WUSA9)  

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