Cider Mill Apartments ("Cider Mill", or the "Property") is an 861-unit garden-style apartment community in Gaithersburg, MD that serves low- and moderate-income families and individuals. consisting of 345 affordable units with income restricted to households earning up to 50% and 60% of Area Median Income for the Washington, DC metropolitan area and 516 market-rate units. These restricted units were introduced by HOC when it acquired the Property in 2018 under Article 53A of the Montgomery County Code, the Right of First Refusal Ordinance. This project will fund additional security upgrades at this facility.

To be completed in FY 2026.

The Property underwent limited unit updates during renovation before acquisition by HOC's, but the exterior and structural areas were not addressed. Several roofs have gradually deteriorated, and some require immediate attention and repairs due to water penetration issues and natural deterioration from aging.

One of HOC's primary goals of acquiring Cider Mill was the preservation of an important asset that housed a large number of vulnerable families in an area that was impacted by high crime and susceptible to potentially high rent increases by private investors who invested very little to maintain the property. Since acquisition, HOC has invested over $7M in capital improvements (including repairs and replacements throughout), demonstrating a commitment to improving the quality of life for the residents.

In FY 2024, HOC invested $1.2M in capital repairs and $2.1M in maintenance contracts, including about $800,000 alone for continuous county inspections and deferred maintenance during COVID. Additionally, HOC's commitment to the safety of the residents informed its investment in security measures to maintain health and safety of the residents, including $408,000 in manned security services and an additional $249,000 in state-of-the-art cameras. These initiatives, though necessary, have placed a heavy burden on the capital and operational resources of the property and as the property and its systems continue to age the capital needs will only increase until a different alternative can be implemented.

Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Montgomery County Police Department.