ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that the County’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has secured $5.8 million in Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108) funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist with the redevelopment of two mixed-income housing communities in Columbia, Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds.
This significant commitment from HUD further supports our ongoing investment in creating and preserving quality and affordable homes for families living and working in our great county. This financial commitment will help us further close the financing gaps for both projects and allow crews to prepare to start construction in the coming new year. Thank you to HUD for its continued commitment to furthering housing affordability in our community.
Since 1996, Howard County has been a HUD entitlement jurisdiction, receiving a federal funding allocation each year. In Fiscal Year 2024, HUD allocated $1,823,419 in total funding to the County through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program. This vital funding assists the County in supporting low-to-moderate income individuals, families and communities to address homelessness, affordable housing challenges, aging infrastructure and economic hardships.
In the 2024 federal award letter, HUD encouraged jurisdictions to use the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program to help address the shortage of affordable rental housing units for low- and moderate-income residents in our community. Based on the proposed timelines, both projects could be complete and ready to open to new and returning residents in 2026.
Since Section 108 loans are federally guaranteed, the County can borrow up to five times its current CDBG allocation to access loan capital for larger projects at a low interest rate. Based on the County’s current CDBG allocation and outstanding Section 108 balance as of May 14, 2024, the County’s maximum borrowing authority is $6,633,650. HUD encourages jurisdictions to consider using this CDBG multiplier for high priority housing projects, such as housing rehabilitation and mixed-use development. In 2014, the County used Section 108 funds for the Burgess Mill redevelopment project in Ellicott City.
The Ranleagh Court and Waverly Winds redevelopment projects are owned and managed by Enterprise Community Development, a nonprofit affordable housing provider in Howard County. These two redevelopments are part of Enterprise’s comprehensive plans to redevelop five aging rental complexes into modern, mixed-income housing communities for Howard County families.
Located at 6001 Turnabout Lane in Columbia, Ranleagh Court currently consists of 41 apartment units. The property will be redeveloped by replacing the existing structures with a new 82-unit multifamily building, that features new amenity spaces and an onsite leasing office. Also located in Columbia at 10339 Twin Rivers Roads, Waverly Winds presently consists of 62 apartment units. The redevelopment of this property will include the replacement of the existing structures with 123 housing units in two new multifamily buildings. The new buildings will also include new amenities and onsite leasing spaces.
Once completed, tenants that were relocated because of the redevelopment, will be offered the opportunity to return to the new communities that have preserved all existing affordability and unit types, while adding new workforce and market rate units.
"These two Enterprise projects in Columbia will double the number of apartment homes we are able to offer to a range of people at different income levels in this sought-after, high-cost, and resource-rich region,” said Janine Lind, president of Enterprise Community Development. “Through the innovative use of the Section 108 program, Howard County continues to demonstrate its commitment to affordable housing. Enterprise is grateful for our continued partnership with the county and the opportunity to work together to preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities.”
Section 108 funds will be used to support costs associated with relocation, demolition and remediation, and site preparation. Both redevelopment projects are aligned with the Howard County HUD 2020 – 2024 Consolidated Plan and meet the CDBG national objective of activities benefitting low- and moderate-income individuals.
About Enterprise Community Development
An affiliate of Enterprise Community Partners, Enterprise Community Development is a mission-driven affordable housing provider that specializes in high-impact residential development, preservation, property management and resident services for more than 24,000 people who call its community’s home. Enterprise’s $1.4 billion portfolio includes 115 communities and 14,000 homes, positioning the organization as the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the Mid-Atlantic and the sixth largest nonprofit owner of affordable housing in the United States.