Stewartown Homes

When the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) acquired the Stewartown Homes Apartments in 1999, the property had not undergone any major renovations since it was built in 1976 and there was a substantial backlog of deferred maintenance. The development, kept affordable through a Section 236 contract, had been cited for hundreds of housing code violations; one-third of the units were in such poor condition that they could not be rented. HOC renovated each unit, cleaned up the grounds and built a new Community Resource & Technology Center, where residents can participate in educational and training programs. Renewal of an existing Section 236 contract ensures that rents will remain below market rates for many years.