Nearly 300 new affordable and mixed-income homes to be built in Howard and Montgomery Counties, including Montgomery County’s first project under the new Facilitating Affordable Inclusive Transformational Housing Zoning Text Amendment “FAITH ZTA.”
Baltimore, MD – Enterprise Community Development announced today that two of its projects have been awarded 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) 2025 competitive funding round.
The selected projects—Rideout Heath in Columbia, Howard County, and Silver Spring United Methodist Church (SSUMC) in Silver Spring, Montgomery County—were among a small group of developments statewide to receive these highly sought-after awards. Together, they will deliver nearly 300 modern, energy-efficient, and accessible homes in two high-opportunity communities, furthering Enterprise’s mission to create equitable, inclusive, and resilient neighborhoods across the Mid-Atlantic.
“These projects represent what affordable housing should be—integrated, forward-thinking communities that meet the needs of today’s families while building toward a more sustainable and equitable future,” said Janine Lind, President of Enterprise Community Development. “We’re grateful for the State’s partnership and investment, which helps us create high-quality homes where families of all incomes can thrive.”
Silver Spring United Methodist Church: A Landmark Faith-Based Partnership
The SSUMC redevelopment marks a major milestone in Montgomery County’s affordable housing landscape. It is one of the first faith-based developments in Maryland to receive a competitive LIHTC award (as part of a twin 9% and 4% LIHTC financing structure) and the first project to advance under the county’s new “FAITH ZTA” (Facilitating Affordable Inclusive Transformational Housing Zoning Text Amendment)—a groundbreaking initiative that enables faith institutions to create affordable housing on their land.
Located adjacent to downtown Silver Spring, the project will transform the historic church campus into a 135-unit affordable, mixed-use community that combines new housing with community-serving space. Homes will serve residents earning between 30% and 80% of area median income (AMI), including permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities and individuals transitioning from homelessness, in collaboration with Montgomery County and SSUMC.
Steps from major transit options—including the upcoming Purple Line and the Red Line Metro—the development will advance equitable, transit-oriented housing in one of the region’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
Rideout Heath: Redeveloping and Reimagining Affordability in Columbia
In Howard County, Rideout Heath will replace an aging 83-unit property in Columbia’s Harper’s Choice Village with a 160-unit, mixed-income community also financed through a “twin” 4% and 9% LIHTC structure. The redevelopment will preserve affordability for current residents while introducing new workforce and market-rate homes, increasing accessibility for residents with disabilities, and integrating advanced sustainability measures.
The new community will be all-electric, designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities and Zero Energy Ready Homes certification standards, and will include solar photovoltaic panels to reduce energy costs for common areas.
“The Rideout Heath and SSUMC developments exemplify Enterprise’s commitment to reimagining affordable and workforce housing for long-term impact,” said Zachary Marks, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Community Development. “By partnering with local jurisdictions and leveraging these tax credits, we’re not just building homes—we’re creating opportunity.”
Partnerships and Design Excellence
Both developments are being led by Enterprise Community Development, with Harkins Builders, Inc. serving as general contractor. Moseley Architects is the architect for Rideout Heath, and Wiencek + Associates is the architect for SSUMC. Enterprise Residential will oversee management and resident services programming at both communities.
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Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $80.9 billion and created 1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Join us at enterprisecommunity.org.
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 our communities home. Our $1.4 billion portfolio includes 115 communities and 14,000 homes, positioning us as the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the Mid-Atlantic and the sixth largest nonprofit owner of affordable housing in the United States. We are an affiliate of Enterprise Community Partners. For more information, visit www.enterprisecommunitydevelopment.org.