Senior advisory committee presses for affordable senior housing and pedestrian safety fixes

The Senior Citizens Advisory Committee reported to City Council that affordable senior housing remains its top recurring concern and that the committee wants to be included in planning for the city's 55-and-over housing projects. The committee also asked for repairs to outdoor stair edges near the community center and library parking lot and urged the Maryland Department of Transportation to address a dangerous intersection at Legion Drive and Lehigh Crest Drive.

Why it matters: Committee members said senior housing and pedestrian safety directly affect older residents' ability to remain independent in Greenbelt. The committee asked the council to invite the committee into planning discussions for any senior independent-living developments.

Committee report: Carol Shaw, chair of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, said that at the committee's annual open forum seniors repeatedly identified affordable senior housing as a top priority. She requested that the committee be included in planning for the local 55-and-up housing development and asked that invitations be forwarded to the committee's staff contact, Mary Wade.

Shaw also described a persistent safety concern: the deteriorating edges of the outdoor steps between the community center and the library parking lot. She said the committee raises this issue annually and would like maintenance to address it.

The committee additionally flagged pedestrian-safety concerns at Hanover Parkway and Greenbelt Road and urged state action on a dangerous intersection at Legion Drive and Lehigh Crest Drive.

Next steps: Council members said they would follow up with staff; Council Member Jenny Pompey noted she had already emailed the city manager with photos about the step edges. No formal council action was taken during the work session.