As part of a Right of First Refusal (ROFR) transaction with Prince George’s County, Langdon Park Capital (LPC), a minority-owned real estate investment company, purchased Langdon Park Apartments in Fort Washington for $63.2 million in 2022. The ROFR transaction ensured 91 of the 304 units in this multi-family property remain affordable.

“We value our partnerships with the mission-driven development community as we work toward increasing the supply of quality affordable housing options in the County,” said Aspasia Xypolia, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. “The ROFR program showcases our County’s continued commitment to preserving housing affordability and diversifying our housing stock.”

“We look forward to deepening our partnership with the Department of Housing and Community Development to advance our shared goals of preserving high-quality, affordable housing and strengthening the Prince George’s County community,” said LPC Founder and CEO Malcolm Johnson. “I was born and raised in a similar neighborhood nearby in Washington, DC, and I founded LPC to address the unmet housing demand and other immediate needs we see in historically underserved Black and Latino communities in this region and across the country.”

Over the last two years, LPC has committed more than $5 million for capital improvements at the property, including upgraded interiors of units, building exteriors, common areas, and improving the on-site community center.

"Property Management is not just a job to me. It is my passion. The most important things before operations are integrity, teamwork, and respect. Your residents must trust that you have their best interest at heart,” says Tracey Butler, Senior Property Manager at Langdon Park Apartments. “Say what you are going to do and then do what you say! I take pride in helping people and that's why I am an advocate of the county's work in affordable housing. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and proud of where they live. Giving back to the community is essential."

As part of its value-added services to residents, LPC partnered with Community Services Foundation (CSF), because of their mutual commitment to serving residents living in affordable apartment communities.  

CSF, funded in part through Prince George’s County Department of Family Services’ Reducing Childhood Hunger program and Maryland State Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program, provides free snacks and meals to elementary and middle school children who participate in the afterschool and summer programs that focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). Additionally, parents and other adults living at the Langdon Park at Fort Washington apartment community can participate in the virtual adult education programs (GED Prep, Job Readiness Training), and receive groceries each month to help abate food insecurities. All programs are provided at no cost to residents in the onsite community center dedicated for residents. 

“These programs ensure children have a safe and nurturing place to go while providing quality academic enrichment programs desired by parents and guardians,” said Fernando Perez, Vice President, Asset Management & Acquisitions for LPC. “Langdon Park Capital and CSF’s partnership signifies that likeminded community investing organizations can provide high quality housing in affordable apartment communities that enhances the lives of Prince George’s County residents.”

For a video profile of Langdon Park Apartments, watch it here.

Photo Caption: Langdon Park Apartments After-School Program for children of apartment residents

Prince George’s County will add two new construction apartment communities to its inventory of affordable housing coming to both New Carrollton and Landover. Earlier this month, legislation passed awarding The New Carrollton $2.7 million in HOME funding and a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), and The Highlands in Landover $2.5 million in Housing Investment Trust Funds and a PILOT.

The New Carrollton is a fifty (50) unit affordable family rental apartment community that will be constructed in New Carrollton. All units will be affordable, and rents will be restricted for forty (40) years. The apartment community will offer a lounge, computer lab, and dog park with access to additional amenities within the neighboring buildings. Amenities include a fitness room, community room, outdoor lounge area, and swimming pool. The community spaces will be furnished to facilitate community programs and activities. The New Carrollton is located in a transit-oriented development (TOD) area and is located a half mile from the New Carrollton Metro Station, the Purple Line, and AMTRAK. This project guarantees housing reserved for persons at fifty percent (50%) of the Area Median Income (AMI) to be included in the center of a much larger development. Without this project, residents at this proposed income level would be priced out of this area, as land value and market rate rent prices are expected to increase with additional new construction development in the coming years.

The Highlands is a 137-unit senior rental apartment community that will be constructed into an elevator building with four stories in Landover. All units will be affordable, and rents will be restricted for forty (40) years. This senior affordable housing project will be located on the existing campus of the First Baptist Church of Highland Park at Sheriff Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway. The units will have energy-efficient appliances, a washer/dryer, a private storage closet, and designer fixtures. The community amenities include a multipurpose community room with a billiards lounge, television, and library/business center. A dog washing station, fitness room, and bike storage will be available for the residents. Residents will also be able to enjoy an open patio/courtyard, and outdoor recreation including bocce ball, a dog run, a gazebo, and a community garden.

Click here for the County Council hearing to watch the presentation by the developers of these two projects.

Photo Caption: The Highlander, an affordable senior housing community coming to the campus of First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover.

New Law Caps Rent Increases and Provides Permanent Protections for Renters

Prince George’s County recently announced the enactment of the Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act of 2024, a landmark law designed to safeguard renters from excessive rent increases. The new law, which took effect on October 17, 2024, sets strict limits on how much landlords can raise rents each year, bringing stability to thousands of residents across the county.

“The Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act is an important step in addressing the housing affordability challenges our residents face,” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “This law will provide renters with the security they need, ensuring they are not burdened by steep rent hikes while landlords can continue to maintain their properties.”

Under the new law, rent increases for most rental units in Prince George’s County are capped at the lesser of either the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Area (CPI-U) plus 3% of the annual rent, or 6% of the annual rent. For residents living in age-restricted senior housing, rent increases are limited to the lesser of the CPI-U or 4.5% of the annual rent. For this year, October 17, 2024 to June 30, 2025, the rent cap is 6% for non-senior units and 3.3% for senior units.

Exemptions: While the Act provides broad protections for renters, there are specific exemptions for certain types of properties. Units not subject to the new law include:

• Newly constructed units completed on or after January 1, 2000
• Units in medical, religious, and nonprofit facilities
• Owner-occupied group houses, Accessory Dwelling Units, and certain condominiums
• Hotels, motels, dormitories, and licensed assisted living facilities

Residents are encouraged to review the full list of exemptions to confirm if their rental unit qualifies under the law.

“This law strikes a balance between protecting renters and allowing landlords to make necessary investments in their properties,” added Aspasia Xypolia, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. “It also includes provisions for fair rent returns and capital improvements, ensuring that the quality of rental properties across the county remains high.”

The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE) will oversee enforcement of the new law and will issue notices regarding allowable rent increases each year. Beginning May 1 of each year, DPIE will notify landlords and tenants of the upcoming year’s rent increase limits, which will be effective from July 1 through June 30.

For more information about the Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act of 2024, visit mypgc.us/rentprotection or residents can call PGC311 or (301) 883-4748 (for outside of the County) for questions about the law.

In recognition of the 50^th Anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) honored DHCD with a Certificate of Appreciation for its dedication and hard work implementing the CDBG program in Prince George’s County. 

The Community Planning Division of DHCD has been a recipient of this entitlement funding since the inception of CDBG. Over the years, the program has awarded CDBG grants to non-profit organizations and County municipalities in the areas of affordable housing, economic development, public facilities and infrastructure, and public services. Each year, the County receives approximately $5 to $6 million to distribute to non-profit organizations and municipalities who serve low- and moderate-income families. 

In an interview with Director Mariela Hakans, a long-time CDBG subrecipient, Child Resource Connect, she said “Our superpower is connecting our families to much needed referrals through our community partners. We have received many testimonials of former and current participants who feel more empowered after utilizing the services at the center and learning how to become a better advocate for themselves and their children.”

To learn more about the CDBG program and how it impacts County residents, watch this video.

Photo Caption: DHCD team with HUD officials

The second community meeting on the Consolidated Plan and the Analysis for Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (ConPlan/AI) was held at the Bowie City Council Chambers on Wednesday, October 23^rd. The meeting was held to provide residents with the opportunity to address housing and community development needs and the development process for proposed activities. Resident input, through surveys and community meetings, helps inform the County how it should prioritize its federal funding for housing and community development and help identify and prioritize needs, proposed projects, the use of funds, and program performance. 

While the following list is not inclusive of all community needs, these themes emerged through community engagement and data analysis to date:

• Prevention and reduction of chronic homelessness
• Utilization of rental assistance
• Preservation of existing affordable housing
• Creation of new affordable housing
• Expansion of public services
• Public facilities
• Safe and inclusive public infrastructure

To see the presentation provided during the October 23^rd ConPlan/AI Community Meeting, click here.

Subscribe to MYPGC to receive notices on the ConPlan/AI upcoming meetings and surveys in order to provide your input.

Tiana Kelley-Winn

 Title:  Project Manager

 Years of Service:  10 Months

 Quote: “I approach my job with a morning meditation to have a blank slate, so that I have an open heart and an open mind to conquer the day.”