Although it won’t welcome its first residents until the fall of 2026, a “topping off” event was held Thursday for a 90-unit senior housing complex currently under construction on University Boulevard West in Wheaton.
Many of those involved in the project signed their name and good wishes to wood that will be placed at the very top of the affordable housing development located next door to Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim synagogue.
County Executive Marc Elrich’s inked message was, “Congratulations. Thanks for your spirit.”
Mission First Housing Group purchased the former parking lot of the synagogue with the assistance of both state and county funding. The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs provided $7.95 million in financing.
Total development cost for the project is $41.7 million.
“I really appreciate the synagogue here for looking at their property in such a meaningful way,” Elrich said. He noted that the county’s population of residents age 65 years and older is growing rapidly.
“There are a lot of people who are cost burdened,” he said, adding, “Older adults should have more choices.”
“As long as we have money, as long as we have opportunities, we are going to keep spending money on these kinds of projects,” he said.
Congregation President Ethan Goldrich said the money the synagogue received for its land is being used to add parking spaces, create a courtyard and entranceway and renovate parts of the building.
This partnership with Mission First “provided us with the resources to update our facility,” he said.
Construction plans include a shared entranceway which “will always connect us with our neighbors,” he said. “We look forward when we will receive our neighbors.”
Rabbi Steven Suson, the spiritual leader of the Conservative synagogue, called the senior housing complex “a blessing to our synagogue and the entire community.”
The project is “creating dignified housing for seniors who deserve dignity and respect,” he said. The way a community treats its seniors “is a measure of our moral and spiritual health.”
Susan Constant, senior vice president of real estate development at Mission First, praised the synagogue members. “They made the bold decision to support affordable housing.”
Mission First Housing also has constructed Cain Commons in Damascus and The Sanctuary, a Mount Jezreel Senior Community on University East in Silver Spring.
