FENTON STREET VILLAGE

Background

The Fenton Street Village project area has experienced physical deterioration of commercial properties and a decline in business activity. Issues of major concern are: the perception of crime, lack of customer parking, inadequate street lighting, blight, and lack of investment by property owners and merchants. The Fenton Street Village Project area is located on the eastern edge of the Silver Spring CBD with boundaries that include Wayne Avenue on the north, Burlington Avenue on the south, Fenton Street on the east, and Georgia Avenue on the west.

Project Accomplishments

Private: The Commercial Revitalization Section has successfully encouraged building improvements by property owners and merchants through the County's Facade Easement and the Store Front Canopy programs. A number of owners and merchants have participated in the programs or expressed an interest in making property improvements.

Public: The Commercial Revitalization section provides technical assistance and guidance to property owners who wish to participate in the facade easement or storefront canopy programs. The County retained an architectural engineering consultant to prepare a site analysis, conceptual designs, and construction documents for streetscape improvements in the project area. Currently, five phases of this multi-phase project have been completed. This includes the east and west sides of Fenton Street from Bonifant Street to Philadelphia Avenue.

Proposed Projects

The Commercial Revitalization section has contracted an architectural engineering firm, Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson to develop design documents for two phases of the Fenton Street Village project which includes, (Phase VI) the east and west sides of Fenton Street from Wayne Avenue to Bonifant Street and (Phase VII), the south side of Bonifant Street and the north side of Thayer Avenue from Georgia Avenue to Fenton Street. Design plans are expected to be completed by September 2004. Construction will be scheduled following the completion of the design documents.

Project Chemistry

The residential and business community expressed their concerns regarding the physical and economic condition of Fenton Street Village. Community interest and recommendations noted in the February 2000 Silver Spring Sector plan were instrumental in the development of the Commercial Revitalization program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs' Commercial Revitalization section. The Fenton Street Village Strategy Committee, composed of residents, business, and property owners was organized in 1994 to provide input on issues and opportunities in the area.

Project Data

Project dates: 1993-Present

Private reinvestment: $1,077,240 to date

Montgomery County Budget: $2,755,000