—HOC, Bozzuto, EYA and County Councilmembers Join Maryland Poet Laureate to Celebrate Next Phase of the Westside at Shady Grove Development Plan—
Montgomery County, MD — June 12, 2023 — The Laureate, a new apartment community located next to the burgeoning Westside at Shady Grove Metro neighborhood, is celebrating its partnership between the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC), Bozzuto, and EYA, at its grand opening today.
The Laureate is the first new development to utilize the County’s Housing Production Fund (HPF). The HPF is a relatively new financing method designed to increase the availability of high-quality affordable housing in Montgomery County. Approved by the County Council in March 2021, the HPF established $100 million to provide revolving, low-cost, construction-period financing to HOC’s developments.
Located at 8005 Gramercy Blvd in Rockville, The Laureate features a variety of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and provides affordability down to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 25% of The Laureate’s 268 residences designated as Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs) and an additional 5% set at workforce housing rates.
The Laureate pays homage to two Maryland Poet Laureates — Grace Cavalieri, Maryland’s current Poet Laureate, who will recite an original poem written for the grand opening event and Lucille Clifton, the second woman and first African American person to hold the esteemed position.
“HOC is committed to the development of vibrant, diverse, mixed-income communities in Montgomery County,” states Chelsea Andrews, Executive Director of HOC. “This partnership has resulted in a high-quality, high-caliber, and beautifully designed community that offers a resort-like living experience that all residents will be proud to call home.”
With over 10,800 square feet of ground floor amenity spaces, each amenity features minimalistic fixtures and sleek designs that provide residents the opportunity to recharge, from the top-of-the-line fitness studio and courtyard pool to the multipurpose creative studio and state-of-the-art clubroom, to the children’s playroom and pet spa. The community also has over 23,000 square feet of ground-level retail, 9,600 square feet of outdoor courtyard space, and nearly 7,400 square feet of office space.
“It has always been our goal to create sanctuary for our residents, and The Laureate is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when partners, both public and private, come together with a common goal,” said Toby Bozzuto, President, CEO, Bozzuto. “The Laureate is an exceptionally designed community that offers our residents many choices and caters to many lifestyles. The thought and consideration given to the design, materials, and amenities speak to a sense of pride that all residents in this community will share.”
“The Laureate is the latest phase in EYA’s Westside at Shady Grove Metro community, and we are incredibly proud of the design, amenities, and lifestyle our partnership has infused into The Laureate. Residents will enjoy the neighborhood’s ”Life within walking distance” and the incredible connectivity afforded by our proximity to the Shady Grove Metro and the region’s major employment and transportation corridors,” says McLean Quinn, President, CEO of EYA.