To: City of Rockville Mayor and Council
I am writing to you on behalf of the West End Citizen’s Association (WECA) regarding the recent negotiations with Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP).
As you know, a WECA committee made up of diverse group of residents of the West End met with representatives of MHP beginning in December 2008 and continuing through June of 2009.
Our goal and intent was to negotiate an acceptable design and development for the Beall’s Grant II housing project.
Our efforts culminated in a joint meeting between the WECA committee and MHP on June 17, 2009. At that meeting representatives of MHP reviewed and verbally agreed to details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that covered the design, resident requirements and community impact of the project. Dennis Cain, Chairman of the committee then signed the MOU and presented it to MHP for signature. MHP chose not to sign the MOU at that time. A copy of that agreement was also provided to the Mayor and Council. (An additional copy is attached for your reference.)
This document not only covers mass and size of the proposed building, but also the community-impacting design details of the building (setbacks, townhouse fronts, no access on Beall Avenue, mansard roof, etc.), the demographics of future residents (i.e., income levels, preference for teachers, firefighters, etc.), commitment not to further expand or develop this site in the future, and safeguards against MHP further concentrating affordable housing within the immediate vicinity. These details go directly to the issues of affordable housing concentration in the West End and overcrowding in our schools – ongoing issues of concern that sparked the outcry over the original proposal approved by the Planning Commission in July 2008. Issues that you are likely to hear more of in the coming months.
The details in the MOU represent concessions on both sides and must be viewed as a whole. MHP and the City cannot leave the door open for expansion and concentration at will or pick and choose which concessions to honor – the committee agreed to a certain number of rental units based on the understanding that MHP would agreed to requirements for prospective residents and future development within the West End.
Subsequent to the meeting on June 17th, MHP modified the signed copy of the MOU by inserting language into the MOU that the committee had rejected as beyond its purview and authority. MHP then signed this version of the document and circulated it as a final agreement. I believe the Mayor and Council have also received a copy of this “cut and paste” document.
At no time did the committee approve these modifications to the MOU and these amendments remain unacceptable to the committee.
As the committee had gone as far as it could in its negotiations with MHP, Dennis Cain and Vice Chair Bridget Newton made a presentation to the general membership of the West End Citizen’s Association on June 30, 2009. As you recall, emotions ran very high at the WECA general membership meeting in October, and a high level of interest in our negotiations has continued in the ensuing months. We had a large turnout to hear the committee’s report.
After presenting the details of the MOU, a motion was made and approved (62 for, 1 against and 2 abstentions) to support the MOU in its entirety. Not parts. Not a modified version. The WECA general membership approved the document that is attached.
MHP continues to decline to sign the MOU – despite repeated attempts and even as recently as today when I spoke with their representative, Artie Harris.
As such, WECA is unable to offer any support to MHP in the development of the Beall’s Grant II project.
Furthermore, we request that the Mayor and Council support the citizen’s of the West End and reject any forthcoming request for a letter of support by MHP until such time as this agreement is signed.
Given all the time and effort your citizens have put into this process and our efforts to negotiate in good faith, we are confident you will support our position.
Sincerely,
Susan Prince
President
West End Citizen's Association
