Silver Spring Development News

[Silver Springer]

Gramax Building Renovation


Description:
The Gramax Heliport building at 8060 - 13th Street was an active office building during the 1960s; however, it was an abandoned eyesore during the 1990s. RST Development has converted it into a modern apartment building with 180 units (efficiencies, one and two-bedroom units). Various financial incentives (e.g. $7.2 million in State tax credits, tax-exempt bond financing underwritten by the housing Opportunities Commission, etc) have made it possible for 70% of the apartments to be priced as affordable housing for qualified applicants.

Status

Completed

Applicant:
RST Development, Mr. Scott Copeland, (301) 816-4243

Opportunities for Public Participation:
N/A

Planning Board Review Process & Case Number:
N/A


Notes From M-NCPPC Staff Contact:
This project involved the renovation of an existing building and was therefore able to obtain the necessary building permits without the reviews required for new construction.

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[Silver Springer]

Montgomery College- Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Campus Expansion - Cultural Arts Center


Description:
In 2005, the PlanningBoard reviewed the King Street Art Center (KSAC), which is an adaptive reuse of the former Giant Bakery site. The King Street Art Center will include the following uses are: art education, community artists and organizations, network operations center, central plant and parking in the basement. The project includes a new landscaped plaza and entry facing Jesup Blair Park. A parking garage site is also proposed behind the KSAC, adjacent to the northern edge of Jesup Blair Park next to the railroad tracks.

The College expansion spans both sides of the railroad track near the intersections of Georgia Avenue and Jesup Blair Drive, and Fenton Street and New York Avenue. The college expansion consists of four phases: Phase I is the Health Sciences Building on Georgia Avenue (complete), the Pedestrian/Bike Bridge over the railroad tracks (complete) and Fenton Street Realignment (complete). Phase II is the Student Services Center (completion in late 2005). Phase III is the King Street Art Center. Phase IV is the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) which is proposed for the southeast corner of Georgia Avenue and Burlington Avenue (MD 410). It will include a 509-seat, two-level theater; a 125-seat studio theater; classrooms; a dance studio; meeting rooms; faculty and staff offices; and various support facilities. See the Montgomery College Website for details
http://www.montgomerycollege.org/new...parkexpansion/

Status

Proposed

Applicant:
Montgomery College - John McLean, Director of Capital Planning, Design and Construction (301) 251-7360, e-mail

Opportunities for Public Participation
A public hearing on the planned Cultural Arts Center will be the subject of a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for March 23, 2006. (Please contact M-NCPPC to confirm the date and time.)

Planning Board Review Process & Case Number:
Mandatory Referral Case Number 05106-M-1

Planning Board Actions:
No action to date regarding the CAC

History of Past Actions:
Site selection for the Expansion - Approved with Comments - June 8, 2000
Phase I: Approved with Comments and Conditions: May 31, 2001
Phase I: 70% Bridge Design approved with Comments & Conditions: November 1, 2001.
Revised bridge connection to Jesup Blair Park and site selection for Cultural Arts Center approved Feb. 6, 2003.
Phase II- Student Services Center: Approved with comments July 10, 2003

Phase III- King Street Art Center approved with comments February 24, 2005

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King Street Art Center



Health Sciences Center



Student Services Center

[JAB323]

Looks like some cool projects.

[MasonsInquiries]

very very VERY impressive projects. it's good to see silver spring blossum the way it has.

[Silver Springer]

Originally Posted by MasonsInquiries

very very VERY impressive projects. it's good to see silver spring blossum the way it has.

Thanks, I'm surprised by the amount of investment 20 residential project alone.

[Silver Springer]

American Film Institute


Description:
he American Film Institute (AFI) now occupies and operates the historic Silver Theatre, an art deco theater constructed on Colesville Road in 1938. In addition, the AFI complex features 32,000 square feet of new space, housing two stadium-seating theaters, office and meeting space. AFI is a nationally renowned organization dedicated to the advancement and preservation of motion pictures. The County contributed several million dollars to help restore the Silver Theatre.

Link to AFI Site: afi.com/silver

Status

Completed

MNCPPC Staff Contact:
Gwen Wright, (301) 563-3413, e-mail

Applicant:
American Film Institute; Foulger Pratt Companies (240) 499-9600

Opportunities for Public Participation:
Completed

Planning Board Review Process & Case Number:
Project Plan #9-98005A

Planning Board Action:
Approved project and site plans

comments
AFI and Discovery host the Silverdocs event in june, showing independent films from around the world and drawing over 16,000 visitors to Silver Spring.

[Silver Springer]

The Adele


Description:
The applicant proposes to redevelop an automotive service facility in the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Fenton Street and Thayer Avenue in the Silver Spring Central Business District. A single mixed-use building is proposed containing 96 dwelling units, including 15 Moderately Priced Dwelling Units; approximately 15,000 square feet of ground floor retail space; and approximately 18,000 square feet of office uses on the second floor. The proposed development also includes approximately 170 structured parking spaces. The proposed building height varies from 60' along Fenton Street up to 90'. The property is zoned CBD-1/Fenton Village Overlay Zone and development is proposed under the Optional Method of Development. The gross tract area is 41,743 square feet; net lot area is 28,526 square feet.



Status

Approved

Architect: SK&I

MNCPPC Staff Contact:
Robert Kronenberg, (301) 495-2187, e-mail


Applicant:
Fenton Street Development LLC
Attention: Mr. Lewie Bloom
4412 Walsh Street
Chevy Chase, MD Maryland 20815
(202) 295-9000


Opportunities for Public Participation:
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the pending site plan.

Planning Board Review Process & Case Number(s):
Site plan #8-20060200 has been submitted for approval.

Planning Board Action:
The Planning Board approved preliminary plan #1-05077 and project plan #9-05003 on June 23, 2005.

Notes from M-NCPPC Staff Contacts:
The site adjoins the public alley providing access to public parking lot #3.

comments
Developer is passionate about one of the best overall mixed-use projects featuring a office, retail, residential space and a green roof.

[Expat]

Silver Spring is the story of an old inner-ring suburban downtown that has seen better days, but found a way back. It should be an example of similar suburbs elsewhere. I have noticed that some people think Silver Spring is a Tyson's type development with a subway stop and outdoor mall. That is misunderstanding the situation. It is an old downtown, an early transit hub, just across the line from its city (DC), that fell from grace because of new suburban development and malls. But, it apparently has found a solution.

[Silver Springer]

Originally Posted by Expat

Silver Spring is the story of an old inner-ring suburban downtown that has seen better days, but found a way back. It should be an example of similar suburbs elsewhere. I have noticed that some people think Silver Spring is a Tyson's type development with a subway stop and outdoor mall. That is misunderstanding the situation. It is an old downtown, an early transit hub, just across the line from its city (DC), that fell from grace because of new suburban development and malls. But, it apparently has found a solution.

I hate it when people call Silver Spring a suburb, it fits the definition only because it borders a major city but everything else about it fits the characteristics of an urban area, it even went through the declines of most major cities and is far denser than many part of D.C.

[NovaWolverine]

Stop playing it is a suburb, one that we need more of. Age and density don't matter. Its decline wasn't mainly dependent on itself, like the other cities you're talking about, but more of DC's. It is a city, but what is a city that's very close to one much much much bigger one, it's a suburb. There are countless examples across the states.

[Silver Springer]

Originally Posted by NovaWolverine

Stop playing it is a suburb, one that we need more of. Age and density don't matter. Its decline wasn't mainly dependent on itself, like the other cities you're talking about, but more of DC's. It is a city, but what is a city that's very close to one much much much bigger one, it's a suburb. There are countless examples across the states.

Only someone from nova would say "Silver Spring is a suburb" and "Age and density don't matter". The sprawling mess that is fairfax,va is what I would call a suburb. Most people think of a car dependent mess of an office park like Tyson's Corner as a suburb. When I think of an urban area I think of a place where I don't need a car to survive, where parking lots are not paved right in front of high-rise buildings,where I don't feel like I'm crossing an interstate highway just to get to the grocery store, where there is mass transit. Silver Spring fits those characteristics, so does New York and Baltimore. Fact is there are NOT many places like downtown Silver Spring in the country and FYI it's decline came from Wheaton Mall being built and the flight from the inner city. What is your definition of an urban area?

By the way, if Tyson's gains the desnity virginia so desires what will you call it? I'm sure you would hail it as an urban core. The funny thing is that you are basically trying to create a downtown Silver Spring.

[Silver Springer]

Silver Spring Metro Center Phase V (The Bennington)


Description:
This project is strategically located along East-West Highway next to the Metro station. The first four phases of the development include the offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), a public parking garage, and street level retail. The final phase is a 223-dwelling unit multifamily building known as the Bennington, which is now leasing. The developer has also posted a bond to help fund a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks to Ripley Street.

Status

Completed

MNCPPC Staff Contact:
Miguel Iraola, (301) 495-4512, e-mail

Applicant:
Foulger Pratt Companies (301) 948-0522

Opportunities for Public Participation:

Planning Board Review Process & Case Number:
Preliminary Plan: #1-88184A Project Plan: #9-88003/4A, Site Plan: #8-89052

Planning Board Action:
Approved Project Plan recommendation on July 19, 1990 and Site Plan on Oct 12,1989

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[Evangelion]

it would be awesome if all the other edge areas of dc became cool urban walkable areas.

[NovaWolverine]

SilverSpringer, there's no need at all for that tirade. I didn't say anything that intended to be taken offensively, and in your case, personally and immature.

I didn't mention Nova, and I love how you say..."only a person from nova". First of all, that's not true, second of all, it has nothing to do with my opinion and nothing at all to do the topic.

I happened to have lived in Queens, NY for the majority of my 21 yrs and also in Philadelphia.

Silver Spring is a suburb. Sorry if you think otherwise. It's a damn fine suburb, my grandma lives there and I'm there every week spending time when I'm in DC from college.

If Tysons Corner were to get where it is trying to go, it would still be a suburb, and DC would be the anchor of the metro.

What is Bellvue, Washington, what is White Plains, NY, what is Royal Oak, MI, Evanston, IL....and on and on? They're very nice suburban cities that have nice urban cores. Whether they've developed into that or not, they are what they are. They all have their unique qualities that shouldn't be ignored, but are suburbs nonetheless.

You act like calling Silver Spring a suburb is like calling B'more a suburb or Newark or San Jose a suburb.

I like Silver Spring a lot, and I've read many of your posts here and on other boards like BeyondDC, I didn't know you'd be such a douche about something like that. Get rid of your Marylander superiority complex, there are so many of you over that that have an arrogance b/c VA has developed so quickly over the past decade, not nearly as many people over here feel resentment about MD.

[NovaWolverine]

Basically Silver Springer, you're making an urban area sound like an exclusive designation, one that must be independent from suburb. Regardless of connotation, I don't know how you MUST separate the two. Never did I say SS wasn't an urban area. Age and density don't matter when something is called a suburb, it's dependent on what the major municipality of area is. There are areas of Alexandria that are older and denser than DC, that doesn't change anything.

[Silver Springer]

Originally Posted by NovaWolverine

SilverSpringer, there's no need at all for that tirade. I didn't say anything that intended to be taken offensively, and in your case, personally and immature.

I didn't mention Nova, and I love how you say..."only a person from nova". First of all, that's not true, second of all, it has nothing to do with my opinion and nothing at all to do the topic.

I happened to have lived in Queens, NY for the majority of my 21 yrs and also in Philadelphia.

Silver Spring is a suburb. Sorry if you think otherwise. It's a damn fine suburb, my grandma lives there and I'm there every week spending time when I'm in DC from college.

If Tysons Corner were to get where it is trying to go, it would still be a suburb, and DC would be the anchor of the metro.

Get off the "official" definition for a second; you are way too focused on that and it is limiting your scope. I just don't see how you can look at a place like downtown Silver Spring and tract housing residential subdivisions full of single family homes and put them in the same category; it just doesn't make any sense. The official definition(s) of urban and suburban are so vague and varies from place to place that it doesn't even make sense to encompass a whole area with the that term but ask anyone on the street what they think of when you say suburbs and the first thing that will come to mind is a car dependent area full of single family homes and a backyard. Ask anyone what they think of when you say urban and they will think of a car independent area with high-rise density, commerce, and mass transit. I'm not trying to "out-do" D.C., any other major city or even put them on the same level with Silver Spring but you gotta be blind if you’re going to call it a suburb (by what most people think) and put it in the same category as a residential subdivision or even Tyson's Corner. Simply put Silver Spring is urban by nature; I could live within the CBD and not ever need a car.

Originally Posted by NovaWolverine

What is Bellvue, Washington, what is White Plains, NY, what is Royal Oak, MI, Evanston, IL....and on and on? They're very nice suburban cities that have nice urban cores. Whether they've developed into that or not, they are what they are. They all have their unique qualities that shouldn't be ignored, but are suburbs nonetheless.

You act like calling Silver Spring a suburb is like calling B'more a suburb or Newark or San Jose a suburb.

I don't understand your confusion. Yes, Silver Spring, Maryland, Worcester, Mass, Bellevue, Washington, White Plains, NY are what I would call urban not suburban. Time has passed and they have matured, when will be the time we start calling them like we see them instead of defining them by some indistinct definition that doesn't even fit. I guess it takes some longer to realize this than others. You need to be more specific than just calling them "suburbs" because they are not what most people think of when you say suburb.

Originally Posted by NovaWolverine

I like Silver Spring a lot, and I've read many of your posts here and on other boards like BeyondDC, I didn't know you'd be such a douche about something like that.

I'm sorry to disappoint you but you can refrain from the name calling, I never stooped to that level.

Originally Posted by NovaWolverine

Get rid of your Marylander superiority complex, there are so many of you over that that have an arrogance b/c VA has developed so quickly over the past decade, not nearly as many people over here feel resentment about MD.

I go to NOVA on a daily basis, trust me, the feeling is mutual.


Besides location your point is mute. What you are trying to do is dilute real, physical characteristics of urban areas all for a silly old definition that doesn't fit anymore. So we shouldn't call Silver Spring an urban area simply because of it's spatial relationship to D.C.?

As I asked before in real world terms what is your definition of urban and suburban besides the minor aspect of location? What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone says those words? What significant difference do you see between the physical characteristics of D.C. and Silver Spring to lay them in different categories?

[Silver Springer]

Originally Posted by NovaWolverine

Basically Silver Springer, you're making an urban area sound like an exclusive designation, one that must be independent from suburb. Regardless of connotation, I don't know how you MUST separate the two. Never did I say SS wasn't an urban area. Age and density don't matter when something is called a suburb, it's dependent on what the major municipality of area is. There are areas of Alexandria that are older and denser than DC, that doesn't change anything.

Exactly! Urban areas 99% of the time are destinations it doesn't work the other way around. And No longer are the surrounding areas dependent upon the inner city as you think. If D.C. somehow disappeared tomorrow Silver Spring wouldn't collapse instantaneously because of that. It is self dependent. Quite frankly Silver Spring is no longer a suburb like most people think, that was decades ago and it's time most people got over that.

[NovaWolverine]

I know what you're saying, but unfortunately it is a suburb b/c of reasons aside from it's own development level, it's proximity to a place orders in magnitude more important. It's not on the development level of places such as Oakland or Jersey City that are hard for me to look at as suburbs, but it's built up plenty. It's not suburban, that's not what I said. The definition of suburb may have changed. It's an edge city, but isn't prominent enough for me to exclude it from being a suburb like parts of arlington and alexandria are.

The feeling across the borders is not mutual. As you said yourself, we're leeching off the land that you guys gave to be apart of DC and we're competing with you all. We're sprawly, internet capital, more concentrated educated ppl, more biotech..blah, blah, whatever you can say to feel superior.

Silver Spring will keep developing more and more and more, and people's idea of it will change even more, I think sooner or later it will lose the stigma you're thinking about, but I still think it's a suburb and I don't at all think of it as a Rockville or an Oakton.

[NovaWolverine]

And keep up the good work updating us on Silver Spring development.

[Third of a kind]

Nova makes a good point, Silver Spring is suburban but there is nothing at all wrong with that. There are countless other suburbs/suburban areas that should look at a place like Silver Spring as model for what they could develop or do in their own communitites. The development there and in Alexandria has reminded me of alot of places I know around New York. In fact Silver, you bring up a good point Silver Spring does remind me alot of White Plains.