Yes, I totally wish it'd remain a junky 1 story storage facility or that the county spent millions of dollars buying the property and turning it into a skinny "park" instead of a mid-rise residential building like its neighbors and like it's zoned for.

Not.

I am so sad to see an article like this. Only 20 years ago Downtown Silver Spring had forty four 100% vacant buildings and vacancy rates were at almost 40%. You could shoot a canon off at 6:00 PM and no one would hear it (a true quote from Gary Stith). Even Doug Duncan, before he was County Executive said: “I will save Silver Spring or die trying”. How soon we forget. We now have a vibrant downtown with new folks moving in all the time. We have the transportation infrastructure to support the continued revitalization of Downtown Silver Spring. We are accomplishing the goals of many and we have a lot to be proud of and so much more to do. In this horrible economy we are beating the odds. Keep it up team! We are winning and we have a great community!

Bruce H. Lee
President
Lee Development Group
Lee Plaza
8601 Georgia Avenue
Suite 200
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 585-7000 ext. 111
Direct: (301) 565- 5421
Fax: (301) 585-4604
Email: bruce@leedg.com
Skype address: BRUCEHRHLEE
www.leedg.com

I remember that they rolled up the sidewalks at 5:00 and the whole area was a little dicey if you were out at night. Buildings used to be closed and boarded up..........now there is activity and $$$ is fueling the economy for a more vibrant Silver Spring...... Montgomery County and Maryland. Silver Spring sure has come a very long way and can still handle more well thought out development.
Ron Dobransky
VP - Sales & Marketing - Rockville Printing
Co-Founder ORIGINAL Tuesdays Networking
Former Silver Spring Board Member

The people complaining about too much development seem to be the residents of the new condos and apartments in the area of the proposed new building, not residents of the single family neighborhoods in Maryland that surround downtown Silver Spring. There's a certain irony in that.

There is plenty of complaining about too much development from the single family homes in the District that is right across the street from the south Silver Spring community.

My parochial comment is to keep build housing in south Silver Spring until Fenton Village restaurants and other businesses prompted by new residents make Georgia Avenue, Fenton, and South Silver Spring a more bustling and lively place.

I think that new development is quite necessary due to the growing population in the area, and also considering that Washington is right around the corner. it could bring in traveling tourist and upcoming business owners. besides who doesn't like liking at a new modern marvel in the area.