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Background
South Silver Spring is triangular shaped and is bounded by Newell Street and Blair Mill Road on the northwest, the B&O Railroad right-of-way on the east and the District of Columbia line on the southwest. The South Silver Spring area is a part of the Silver Spring Central Business District (CBD). It is a combination of small scale commercial buildings and a scattering of high rise office buildings. After years of decay, South Silver Spring is being transformed into an exciting mixed use neighborhood with high tech businesses, arts oriented enterprises, new restaurants and over 1,000 new housing units. The new housing is the result of several large, adaptive re-use projects and several new residential development.
This project provides for streetscape improvements in conjunction with private reinvestment and revitalization activities in the South Silver Spring area. Several phases of streetscape have been completed and the final phases will be completed by the end of 2004.
King Street Streetscaping
Project Accomplishments
Private: Within the past four years, there have been millions of dollars of reinvestment in existing buildings in South Silver Spring. The Discovery Channel's Creative Technology Center is occupying the previously vacant, Caldor Department store. The Photo Group has converted a number of underutilized buildings into a mix of uses including a high tech photo studio and several restaurants. ACECO has renovated a building for its own operations and retained three store front businesses as well. Montgomery College is expanding its Takoma Park campus into South Silver Spring and their Health Sciences building is near completion.
Over the next few years, this level of private investment will be more than trippled with new residential development and a mixed use project.
Public: The County helped renovate six existing buildings through the purchase of facade easements. This support has helped revitalize over 100,000 square feet of existing, previously run down buildings.
Facade Easement Improvements on the ACECO Building on Georgia Avenue.
In addition, a number of streetscaping projects have been completed at a cost of slightly over $1.5 million dollars.
Project Chemistry
The 1993 Silver Spring CBD Sector Plan, in conjunction with 1995 The Silver Spring Agenda, brought more attention for the need to revitalize South Silver Spring. A survey of vacancies by DHCA staff identified over 450,000 square feet which have been vacant for a significant period of time. Now, the South Silver Spring area is in the midst of a major transformation through private investment.
Recently Completed Projects
13th Street Streetscape Project
This project included the north and south sides of 13th Street from Eastern Avenue to Georgia Avenue. Construction was completed in October 2004. The project included the replacement of curb and gutter, installation of new concrete and brick sidewalks, street trees, planters and landscaping.
13th Street looking west towards Eastern Avenue. (Before)
13th Street looking west towards Eastern Avenue. (After)
Blair Mill Road
This project includes the north and south sides of the block from Georgia Avenue to mid-block in front of the new Silver Spring Innovation Center.
Blair Mill Road at Georgia Avenue
Project Data
Project date: 1995-2004
Private reinvestment: Millions
Montgomery County Budget: $2,000,000 ±
