Posts by Dan Reed — Regional Policy Director
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New names aid corporate branding but erode sense of place
After 45 years, Georgian Towers is no more. A new owner has renamed the downtown Silver Spring complex “The Point at Silver Spring.” While a new name might give the troubled complex a fresh start, it ignores the emotional and social value of an established name. New owner Pantzer Properties recently bought the 1960’s-era apartment buildings at Georgia Avenue… Keep reading…
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South Silver Spring needs better parks, not just more
Citing a lack of open space, some South Silver Spring residents oppose a planned condominium apartment building. But the problem isn’t that there aren’t enough parks, but that existing parks aren’t being used. Reston-based Comstock Homes seeks to build a 7-story, 200-unit building with ground-floor shops on a 1-acre property at the corner of Newell Street… Keep reading…
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Montgomery RTV has promise, but needs lanes and money
Last Wednesday, residents who studied bus rapid transit in Montgomery County talked about their findings at a forum in Silver Spring hosted by the Coalition for Smarter Growth. They stressed how important transit is to the county’s future, but to succeed, the system will need dedicated lanes and realiable funding. Composed of residents, community leaders and major… Keep reading…
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“Coolest city” rankings don’t tell the whole story
Forbes recently named Bethesda America’s 17th coolest city, causing some to wonder if Montgomery County is becoming Portland on the Potomac. While their ranking and definition of a “city” are suspect, there’s still plenty to be excited about. The magazine based their rankings on several factors, including the number of restaurants, availability… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s fake cul-de-sacs don’t solve traffic woes
Concerned about through traffic, many neighborhoods in Montgomery County have closed off their once-connected streets. But the costs of a quiet street might outweigh the benefits. Montgomery County neighborhoods, like many in North America, generally fall into two categories: those with cul-de-sacs, and those without. Before World War II, and for a little while afterwards,… Keep reading…
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Silver Spring’s Flower Theatre could bloom once again
For decades, the Flower Theatre in Silver Spring’s Long Branch neighborhood entertained generations of residents eager to see the latest films. In recent years, however, the Art Deco-style movie house has sat vacant and may need substantial funding to be usable again. How can we bring the Flower Theatre back to life? On Saturday, August 4 from 10-1, we’ll explore… Keep reading…
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Silver Spring’s Ripley District becoming a neighborhood
A few years ago, the Ripley District was home to auto body shops and warehouses. But with the completion of a new apartment building and work starting on another, this handful of blocks between the Red Line and Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring is on its way to becoming a neighborhood. In May, residents started moving into the Solaire, located at 1150 Ripley Street. I previously… Keep reading…
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Wheaton will redevelop with or without BF Saul
Unhappy with getting a smaller slice of downtown Wheaton than they originally hoped for, developer BF Saul has pulled out of Montgomery County’s redevelopment scheme for the area. Residents impatient for new investment will be frustrated, but Wheaton’s revival is already underway, and it’ll continue with or without BF Saul. Two years ago, County Executive… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s McMansions will need to find a new purpose
Skeptics of Montgomery County’s proposal to allow homeowners to build accessory apartments more easily claim it will change or harm single-family neighborhoods. But recent trends in housing suggest that those neighborhoods will change anyway. Slightly less than half of Montgomery households live in single-family homes today, and pretty soon they may no longer be… Keep reading…
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Lack of connections, visibility hurt ICC Trail
Less than a year old, the Intercounty Connector Trail offers a new way to get across Montgomery County by bike. However, a circuitous route, a lack of connections to surrounding areas, and sections with poor visibility all hurt its potential. The ICC was originally planned to have a bike trail running parallel to it, but in 2004, the State Highway Administration got rid of it, claiming… Keep reading…