Maryland handed out its latest round of affordable housing money on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and this time the state attached a clock to it. Seven projects won tax credits and state loans, and every one of them has to close its financing within 12 months.
According to the governor's office, the Department of Housing and Community Development awarded $17.6 million in all. The state's detailed Notice 26-15 breaks that into $9.56 million in 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $8 million from the Rental Housing Financing Program, which covers the Rental Housing Program and Multifamily HOME. The governor's office estimates the credits will raise about $79 million in tax credit equity.
The new rules are the real story for builders. Under the 2026 Qualified Allocation Plan's "Housing Starts Now" category, every project in this round had to already be zoned for its intended use or have preliminary or full site plan approval. Winners then have to close financing within 12 months of their award, which the state says is meant to get housing finished and ready for occupancy faster than in past rounds.
How the 555 units add up
The headline number takes a little unpacking. The governor's office calls all 555 units "for families." DHCD's notice is more precise: the seven competitive projects will create or preserve 275 family units and 70 senior units, and 85 of them are set aside for people experiencing homelessness and people with disabilities. One project paired its 9% credits with a 4% tax credit and bond deal, a "twinned" structure that adds another 210 family units and brings the total to 555.
Here's who won, according to DHCD's award list:
- Gillis Memorial GrandFamily Apartments, Park Heights, Baltimore: Woda Cooper Development, 50 new units for intergenerational families, about $22.6 million in total project costs.
- Oriole Lane, La Plata: Osprey Property Company II, 75 new family units, about $31.1 million.
- Evergreen at Cedar Lane, Leonardtown: Green Street Housing, 70 new senior units, about $28.2 million.
- Atrium Lofts, Gaithersburg: Potomac Housing Development, 40 new family units, about $19.5 million.
- Valley View, Frostburg: DN Residential, 30 units, acquisition and rehab.
- Laurel Grove Acres II & III, Federalsburg: Green Street Housing, 36 units, acquisition and rehab.
- Parkway Apartments, Easton: Pax Development, 44 units, acquisition and rehab.
The governor's release says the projects sit in seven counties and Baltimore City. By our count of DHCD's list, the seven projects are in six counties (Allegany, Caroline, Charles, Montgomery, St. Mary's and Talbot) plus Baltimore City.
Competition was real. DHCD got 10 applications asking for about $12.9 million in tax credits and $13 million in state rental housing funds. Three didn't get funded, including Eastport Harbor House in Annapolis and 249 N. Aisquith in Baltimore.
A Park Heights backdrop
The state made its announcement at Gillis Memorial Christian Community Church in Park Heights, near the site of the Gillis GrandFamily project. Woda Cooper is developing it with the Gillis Memorial Community Development Corporation, and it drew $1.5 million in tax credits and $2 million in Rental Housing Program money.
"Today's 2026 tax credit allocation reflects the investment of Park Heights Renaissance, Baltimore City, and the State of Maryland, as we collectively bring this vision to life," said Malik Jordan, senior vice president of development at Woda Cooper Companies.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who grew up in Park Heights, said the city is "committed to development without displacement."
Neither the state's release nor its award list names a general contractor for any of the seven projects.
The next shot at this money is close. Applications for the second 2026 competitive round are due by Oct. 21.
Why it matters for Contractors
Seven funded projects, four of them new construction, means real bid opportunities from Western Maryland to Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore. The 12-month closing deadline is the part to circle: developers who won will be pushing to lock in pricing, budgets and construction teams quickly, so contractors who want in should be reaching out to Woda Cooper, Osprey, Green Street, Potomac Housing, DN Residential and Pax now, not after closing. The three rehab jobs are a good fit for smaller and mid-sized contractors, and the zoning-or-site-plan rule means fewer of these awards should stall in approvals.