Sarah and Marc St. Jour watched their world crumble as their first son “was gone far too soon” and soon after, their apartment was engulfed in flames, and they had lost everything.
But thanks to Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP), they and Avah, 2, and Noah, 5 months, are moving into the newly refurbished Gardens of Gaithersburg off North Frederick Avenue.
The apartment buildings with a total of 78 units are reserved for those earning 60% of the area median income or less.
Ribbon cutting was held Thursday for the complex, which is located near stores, restaurants and public transportation.
Marc St. Jour called “a lifeline” for him and his family.
MHP finished the $36 million project thanks to funding from Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the state of Maryland, Bank of America, Enterprise, Freddie Mac and NeighborWorks America. Many funding representatives were on hand to celebrate.
County Executive Marc Elrich praised the affordable housing project. If the apartments had been sold to a private developer, only a small number of units would have been set aside for low- and moderate-income residents, he said.
