SILVER SPRING, MD – A proposed 30-story high-rise in downtown Silver Spring has been condemned by long-time residents, armchair architects, and that self-appointed historic expert on Facebook for being “totally out of scale” with the area’s charming neighborhood of 20-plus story high-rises.
“This isn’t Dubai,” shouted Matthew McGrumpy, a local activist who resides on the 26th floor of Solaire 8200 Dixon. “If we let a 30-story building get built now, what’s next? A 31-story building?!”
The proposed 30-story building will be located just two blocks from the Silver Spring Metro station and will replace the beloved Tastee Diner. Developers of the project defended the design, noting that it meets all zoning regulations and provides much needed housing. But residents are not having it.
“This thing is going to create uncomfortably huge shadows,” said Sheila Gottlieb while sitting under an umbrella by a roof deck pool 21 stories above Ripley Street. “It’s architectural manspreading!”
A new group calling itself Unspring Silver Spring has already filed nine lawsuits and a Change.org petition with 14,000 signatures, 12,000 of which came from people who live in Chevy Chase and Takoma Park who have never actually visited the site.
Montgomery County Planning Board Commissioners tried to ease concerns by pointing out that the 30-story building will be “mostly invisible” from street level as the vast majority of people are only looking at their phones while walking around.
At press time, opponents were floating a compromise: allow the building to go to 30 stories, but require ten of the floors be built underground and reserved for free public parking.
Discover more from The Takoma Torch
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
