Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on November 14 to mark the completion of a $3.2 million green renovation of Edinburgh House. The 10-story brick building, located in the heart of Takoma Park on Maple Avenue, was awarded the first Be SMART multi-family loan for energy-efficient upgrades that are expected to yield an ongoing energy savings of 15-20 percent. Edinburgh House is also one of the first multifamily properties in Montgomery County to receive financing through the state’s New Issue Bond Program. State and local officials joined MHP, residents and investors to tour the 45-unit affordable rental community located less than a mile from the Takoma metro station. Renovations included installing new kitchens and bathrooms; hard surface recycled flooring in the common areas and units; energy efficient appliances, doors, windows, and lighting fixtures; and a reflective Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) roof, which is made of recycled material. Three new handicap accessible units were also added to the building, and the laundry room and leasing office received a facelift. The project was completed in August and created 38 jobs.

Mosi Harrington, the founder and former executive director of the Housing Initiative Partnership, retired recently after 24 years as an advocate and a leader in the field of affordable housing for low income families.  Under her leadership, the focus of the organization she helped create evolved to meet the ever-evolving housing issues of the people she served. The Housing Initiative Partnership was one of the first counseling organizations to recognize – and respond to – the foreclosure crisis.