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Tuesday, October 29, 2019

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HOC Selects Downtown Silver Spring for New Headquarters
HOC to relocate 180 jobs to southeastern Silver Spring, MD

Montgomery County, MD - The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) has selected Silver Spring, MD as the location for the agency’s new headquarters. Currently headquartered in Kensington, MD, the Agency will continue to maintain two service centers in Gaithersburg and Silver Spring, as well as several individual property offices across the 500 square mile county. HOC’s move will yield a significant investment in the community and relocate 180 jobs to Downtown Silver Spring.

The new Silver Spring headquarters will be located at Fenwick Lane and Second Avenue, mere steps from HOC and Montgomery County’s latest community investment in Elizabeth Square and the new South County Regional Recreation and Aquatic Center. Construction of the new headquarters is projected to begin at the end of 2021. The new building will be co-developed with Promark Partners and include approximately 77,000 square feet of office space and 6,500 square feet of leasable retail.

HOC’s relocation will also enable the County to reprogram the former Kensington Headquarters. Formerly Kensington Elementary, which closed in 1983, the sixty-four year old school building is an adaptive reuse that has served as HOC’s headquarters for more than 25 years. However, the Commission sought better connection to the public transportation on which many HOC customers rely, enhanced energy efficiency, and a location positioned to economically benefit from the presence of 180 employees.

“We are excited to build a new headquarters in Silver Spring,” said Jackie Simon, HOC Board Chair. “This location will allow us to serve customers better proximate to the Metro Red line, affordable parking, and other County services. The team did a great job identifying this site, and we look forward to increasing our presence in Silver Spring and creating deeper ties with this community.”

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About the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC)
The mission of the Housing Opportunities Commission is to provide affordable housing and supportive housing services that enhance the lives of low- and moderate-income families and individuals throughout Montgomery County, Maryland so that:

• No one in Montgomery County lives in substandard housing;
• We strengthen families and communities as good neighbors;
• We establish an efficient and productive environment that fosters trust, open communication and mutual respect; and
• We work with advocates, providers and community members to maintain support for all the work of the Commission.