Silverspringism

"Get ready for a mouth-watering, lip-smacking week of great food from Silver Spring restaurants!  Join us February 5-11 for Silver Spring Restaurant Week. Co-sponsored by Downtown Silver Spring, the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, the Silver Spring Regional Center and The Washington Post, Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity to dine out. Enjoy Silver Spring Restaurant Week at your "tried and true" or somewhere new.

Participating restaurants will feature prix fixe lunch ($12) and dinner ($22 or $30) menus from Monday, February 5 to Sunday, February 11. In addition to these exclusive Restaurant Week menus, most participating restaurants will also offer standard fare at regular prices. Some restaurants may require reservations during Restaurant Week, so please call ahead"

Participating Restaurants and Meal Prices:

- Addis Ababa Ethiopian Restaurant -8233 Fenton St.: Lunch $12 Dinner $22
- Asian Bistro - 8537 Georgia Ave.: Dinner $30
- Austin Grill - 919 Ellsworth Dr.: Dinner $30
- Capital Bleu - 8727 Colesville Road: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- Ceviche - 921-J Ellsworth Dr.: Dinner $30
- Crisfield Seafood Restaurant - 8012 Georgia Ave.: Lunch $12
- Cubano's - 1201 Fidler Lane: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- El Aguila Restaurant - 8649 16th St.: Lunch $12 Dinner $22 and $30
- El Nopalito Grill - 2259 Bel Pre Road: Lunch $12 Dinner $22
- Gallery Restaurant & Lounge - 1115 East West Highway: Dinner $30
- Golden Flame Restaurant - 8630 Fenton St.: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- Jackie's Restaurant - 8081 Georgia Ave.: Dinner $30
- McGinty's Public House - 911 Ellsworth Dr.: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- Mi Rancho - 8701 Ramsey Ave.: Lunch $12 (Mon-Fri only)
- Mrs. K's Toll House - 9201 Colesville Road: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- redDog Cafe - 8301 A Grubb Road: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- Red Lobster - 8533 Georgia Ave.: Dinner $30
- Redrock Canyon Grill - 928 Ellsworth Ave.: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- Sergio Ristorante Italiano - 8727 Colesville Road: Lunch $12
- Spring Garden Restaurant - 8613 16th St.: Lunch $12 Dinner $22
- Taste of Jerusalem - 8123 Georgia Ave.: Lunch $12 Dinner $30
- Taste of Morocco - 8661 Colesville Road: Lunch $12 Dinner $22
- Thai at Silver Spring - 921-E Ellsworth Dr.: Lunch $12 Dinner $30

                                            More Information at http://www.silverspringdowntown.com/

                                                                                                                                                         

The Oakview Pool was the first Community Neighborhood Swimming Pool in Mongomery County.  The  Pool opened in 1957. The pool was built and is still owned by the Oakview Recreation Corporation, a group of Oakview Residents.
Oakview Pool is home to the OAKVIEW OCTOPI a very active swim team that competes with other swim teams in Mongomery County.  This year, they mark their 50th Aniversary.  Along with their regularly scheduled Annual Community Day in early June, the Oakview Pool is planning a Big 50th Aniversary Event for Pool Members.
 
In honor of their 50th year the Recreation Corporation is putting together a scrap book for a trip down memory lane. The Board members would like help finding old photographs and memorbilia for the scrapbook.  If you, or your relatives, or someone you know ever lived in the Oakview Neighborhood of Silver Spring, Maryland and have old photos (don't care how old or beat up the photo is), or memorabilia, or a story of the Pool or Neighborhood - The board would appreciate anything you know of!





Please contact Jean Mack, Treasurer of the Oakview Recreation Corporation: 

By phone (240)601-9334 or her email jotz34@earthlink.net 

She will return all photos and memorbilia after copies are made.

For more info about the Oakview Pool and the Swim Team visit the Pool Website

For more information, demograhics, history and photos of Oakview

                                                                                            


Four Corners Animal Hospital was established in 1957, and moved to its present location in 1963. Through Dr. Rosswell Bowersett, Sr., and Dr. Bowersett, Jr., they have seen two generations of Silver Spring clients. In 1988, Dr. Bowersett, Jr., began working at Four Corners with his dad. Dr. Bowersett, Sr., worked daily with the practice from 1957 until his death in July 2000. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. Presently, Dr. Bowersett, Jr. owns and runs Four Corners Animal Hospital as a sole proprietor                                                                                 




Ros Bowersett, Jr., DVM, MPH (University of Georgia 1988 & Johns Hopkins University 2006) is the primary veterinarian and owner of Four Corners Animal Hospital. Ros is a Silver Spring native and graduated from Springbrook High School (yeah! GO BLUE DEVILS) where he was on the wrestling team.  Like his father, he graduated from the University of Georgia. Dr.Bowersett operated an ambulatory equine practice from 2001-2005, serving Montgomery and Howard Counties. In the Spring of 2006 he completed his training in public health. In addition to enjoying clinical veterinary medicine, Dr. Bowersett is also interested in zoonotic disease research.

Anyone who drives through 4 Corners on University Blvd. will recognize the unique and striking Mid Century Modern Building with it's blue tile and DVM symbol on the front. They are located at 105 University Boulevard West. I have been taking my pets to the Dr.'s Bowerset, Jr and Senior for over 17 years. I miss The Senior Dr. Bowersett very much, but his son is very much like him in many ways.  I can vouch for his love and care of all the animals that come to the Hospital, and ANY animal abandoned or in trouble anywhere!  He's a GREAT vet, supported by a great staff. So, to Ros and Staff at the Four Corners Animal Hospital Congratulations on your 50th year as (In my opinion) Silver Spring, Maryland's Best Veternarians!

I am amazed at several businesses that have survived and thrived the rise, the decline, the fall and the current surge in popularity of "Silver Sprung", Md.  As a native of Silver Spring, I have lived, gone to school, played and worked here all my life.  I've seen the good the bad and the ugly times in Silver Spring. 

There are several places in Silver Spring that are gone but not forgotten by me, such as Billy Boy's Subshop, The Hecht Co., Hahns, Eddie Leonards, the bowling alley, the smell of the Heidi -Giant Food Bakery, the Hot Shoppes, the Old Armory Building, The Trojan Horse night club in the Holiday Inn, The Galaxy Room night club and Fire Fountain Restaurant in the old Sheraton Hotel, my Texaco Gas Station (on the corner of Wayne & Georgia), the Drug Fair, Solar Plexus, London Cleaners,Villa Rosa Restaurant, Kushner's, Sakura Palace, Hofberg's Deli, Fred & Harry's, The Wachapreague, and Giffords.

Most of all I miss the Citizens Bank Building (my dad had his Woodside Realty Co Business on the 3rd Floor), this is where my brother and I watched the Thanksgiving Parade every year with an incredible bird's eye view from our warm window perch, 3 stories above Fenton Street, we thought we were the luckiest kids in the world!

 Some Silver Spring Businesses that have survived and still thrive:

Crisfield's  The Original at Georgia Ave & EW Hwy with the "Early Bathroom" Decor still serving up the best seafood in the area since 1944.  A great article about funky old Cristfields from 2003, an article from December 2006 and their website. 

Mamma Regina  opened in 1974.  The name was changed to SERGIO"S  in 1989 by the owner Sergio Toni who is still on the premises almost every night. Sergio acquired the restaurant in 1982. The quality of the food has not changed, this restaurant is always packed!  I would give it an A for it's romantic upscale atmosphere. Sergio's has survived how many hotel ownership changes? Has been in the same tucked away location (the very bottom/basement of whatever hotel is there at the time - currently the Hilton)  

Douglas Speed and Sport opened on Fenton Street in 1963. The Shop sells  Racing and High performance Car products. The owner Larry Lint says 40% of his Business comes from Drag Racing Customers, 10% comes from Truck parts and the bulk of his bussiness is selling to muscle car and restoration enthusiasts.  He says that this part of Fenton Street has gone from "a sleepy back street" to gridlock in just the past year.    

Viccino's  Open since the early 1990's A popular, no frills, laid back, nothing fancy, "hole in the wall" on Sligo Avenue at Georgia (across the street from the newer Jackie's) with plastic red checked table cloths, fake flowers and Excellent Italian food.

Hannigan's Auto Body  Jim Hannigan and his brother opened up Shop in 1958.  They come very highly recommended and are well known for their satisfied customers. Hannigan's is located on that teeny tiny road in Silver Spring named after the famous horse Selim (933 Selim Road, Silver Spring, Md 20910). People rave about Hannigan's ability to match paint and their resonable prices.

Corner Pub  A pine panelled institution in 4 Corners known for it's casual sports bar crowd and really good pizza.  The owners are somehow related to the original Fred and Harry's folks (the Pub is in the basement of the former Fred & Harry's Restaurant in Four Corners)

Woodmoor Bakery actually named "Woodmoor Pastry Shop" A Real Bakery in the Woodmoor Shopping Center since the early 1950's. No need to say more about this shop -Just HOMEMADE cookies, pastries, pies and cakes made by people doing this for almost 50 years. YUM!

Santucci's stands for Delicious and homemade with care, also in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, This tiny Italian Deli and Sub shop deserves mention here too, for surviving with the chains like Subway, Jerry's and McDonald's only steps away from it.

Atlantic Guns  The original location opened on Bonifant Street in 1950.  Still owned by the same Family, since 1950, they still do a brisk business (which is surprises me) and now have a second location in Gaithersburg. The only complaint they have about the Silver Spring location is the lack of parking spaces near the gun shop. 

Thai Derm  another unique little place tucked away on Bonifant Steet with the best thai food around, the original owner has been there since 1982. The interior of this restaurant and the superb food quality has not changed in the 24 years they've been there.

The Auto Shoppe  Randy Rodman, an expert Mercedes auto mechanic has been in business in Silver Spring for over 30 years, He started out in a tiny location across from Montgomery College on Fenton Street extended.  Recently moved to a much larger spot on Philadelphia Ave, just 2 blocks away.  

Headlines Hair Designers  started out as a small shop in the early 1980's The owners, The Everline Family, occupied a space in an old building on Roeder Road.  They have sinced moved twice, first to First Avenue (at the back of Georgian Towers) and then to their "huge state of the art" current location at 8740 Georgia Avenue (the front of Georgian Towers).

The Golden Flame  opened in 1972 -  Owned by the Mamarus family. Their Greek food is still wonderful and resonably priced and they have a good happy hour!

Sniders Super Foods  Local, Small, Very Friendly, Unique and not your average big Chain Grocrery Store. Their website.

Silver Spring Stage  in Woodmoor Shopping Center opened Over 30 years ago. Something I never knew was that it was built in a previous BOWLING ALLEY !

White Oak Bowling Alley  Still in White Oak Shopping Center. Opened in the early 60's?  Duckpin bowling and a snack bar - still takes me back to the 60's.  Now the only Bowling Alley I can think of in Silver Spring? 

Tastee Diner  Opened in the 40's on the corner of Wayne and Georgia.  I can't forget those shabby, falling apart booth seats in the place (kinda added to it's charm)before it moved to it's new home on Cameron Street.

Mi Rancho  opened up in the Old "3 Aces Restaurant" Space at Ramsey Avenue and Fidler Lane in the early 1990's at a time when we had no really decent restaurants in Silver Spring much less any mexican restaurants. Became very Popular and still is!

Hoover Fisher  Florists in Woodmoor Shopping Center in Business for over 50 years occupies a really cool looking corner store of the Shopping center.

Chaconas  Florist on Wayne Avenue - I think I remember them having a shop on Silgo Avenue many years ago? Or maybe that was Vincent  Agnes Florist?

Bell's Florist - The grandaddy of Silver Spring Florists Same family since 1947.  The Mangum Family  have always been active Silver Spring Boosters.

Plaza Arts Store - What a Cool place to wander around in and I Love their CAT. The cat must be ancient though, I can't remember NOT seeing it for the last 15 years.  Silver Spring Daily Photo has an awesome photo of the shop with this cat in the window!  This is going way back, but before Plaza Art, it was LITTMAN"S or LIPPMAN's art and framing.

Dale Music - Since 1950  People are amazed that this little shop has survived, but they do have a website, maybe that has helped them in this day and age.  Also word of mouth and having a niche in the business has helped too.  I know people that have traveled  from DC, PG and NorthernVirginia to this unique little store.

For these Local "mom and pop" small business' to have survived our revitalization and inundation of huge new chains into our downtown and greater silver spring area, they must be doing something right!!  I applaud all of them and apologize if I have forgotten any.  Please let me know if you think of any I might have missed. 

Rachel Carson, this pioneer activist stirred up controversy with her book "Silent Spring" She wrote the book in her house in the Quaint Acres Neighborhood of Silver Spring, Md. This fairly modest rambler with english basement was built in 1957 and sits on a heavily wood lot of a little over an acre. A Conservation park in Brookville and an elementary school in Gaithersburg are named after Carson. Rachel Carson lived in a cape cod style home on Williamsburg Drive in the Woodmoor Subdivision of Silver Spring, Md, many years before moving to her "Quaint Acres" house. Rachel also rented the brick colonial home at 904 Highland Drive in Woodside, Silver Spring, Md, when she first moved to the the area in 1938. 

Another Controversial woman and 1st Female Senator, Margaret Chase Smith, also lived in the Quaint Acres Neighborhood, just around the corner from Carson. This home, a mid century Modern style house with lots of glass sits on 1.05 Acres and was built in 1951.  "After many years of moving, Senator Smith finally found a permanent home in the Washington suburbs. In 1952 she began renting the lower level of a house located in Quaint Acres, Silver Spring, Maryland and owned by her Executive Assistant, William C. Lewis, Jr. Senator Smith continued to live there until she left Congress in 1973. In subsequent years, she stayed at the home during travels to Washington. She inherited the house in 1982, following the death of Bill Lewis. Senator Smith donated the property to Northwood University." It has since been sold twice. 
                           The house is unaltered today and looks the same as it did in this photo.

"Back in Quaint Acres, we had the original Quaintance house that guarded the orchards in that rolling terrain and many of the fruit trees. Margaret Chase Smith was there, the first woman senator and a person of stature, kindness, grace and seemingly inexhaustible patience for the kids in the neighborhood. Another lady of the neighborhood was soft-spoken, gentle-souled Rachel Carson, who lived in the house with the terrariums and found objects from the forest. I used to play in her house with her nephew Roger. Once, catching me idly digging at an ant hill, she explained what the ants do, how, why; and, by extension, how we should behave toward all creatures, and why." From Robert Aubry Davis Robert Aubry Davis is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, and an eighth-generation Washingtonian. He hosts WETA's arts program Around Town on TV 26 and Millennium of Music on 90.9 FM.

About the neighborhood of Quaint Acres: located off New Hampshire Avenue near White Oak the neighborhood is bordered by Northwest Branch Park. There are 156 Homes. Most were built between 1948 and 1974 and each lot is a little over an acre The oldest home is the original farmhouse built in 1853 where Quaint Acres Drive and Applegrove Rd meet inside the Entrance to the Subdivision. The homes are great examples of custom Mid-Century Modern Houses and no two are alike. So far in 2006 there were 3 closed sales.  

This is a quiet, lovely neighborhood, where you can still find homes set back from the street on gorgeous, large, wooded lots, and NO McMansions! what-so-ever.


Click here for a tour of the Quaint Acres Neighborhood, Silver Spring

For more information about Silver Spring Neigborhoods and Real Estate  Visit  Silver Spring Real Estate

Hats off to the SOS (Save Our Seminary) folks in Forest Glen.  I used to love driving through there on my way to Bethesda.  I took their tour in the mid 1990's. It was like entering another world, wierd, wacky, whimsical and wonderful all at the same time, it reminded me of that old amusement park in Baltimore off Rt 40 called the "Enchanted Forest".  At the time I took the tour of the grounds, the Army was trying to let the place decay, so they could get the buildings condemed and tear it all down. The small handfull of people at SOS have been tireless and perservered for years against the United States Government, the US Army and the County. They deserve a ton of respect for what they have accomplished!! It just goes to show you what a few passionate people can do when they hang in there.  The housing development looks like it is going to be FABULOUS.   

There are three types of New Homes almost complete and ready for sale. 

The most expensive are the large 2 Level "Courtyard Homes" on Linden Lane and are priced starting at 865,000 with 2600 square ft of finished space and garages. 

Townhouses on the new Ament Street start at $852,495 with garages, and are 4 Levels with rooftop terraces backing to trees. 

On another part of Linden Lane are Townhouses starting at $648,000. These townhomes also have 4 levels and a fireplace but no garages.  

The architecture is incredible and unlike anything in the area including Tudor, Spanish Mission and Arts and Crafts styles. It will be exciting and interesting to see how the restoration of the old historic structures goes. There are also condo units available now in the old Ballroom, they start at $419,000

Websites and Info: 

Home sales and Site Plan for National Park Seminary

Informative Website about the History, The Place, The People an the Save Our Seminary Organization. 

The Washington Post Article from January 2006. 

Some Totally Awesome Photos of the Seminary from a very gifted DC Blogger.  Be sure to scroll down to see all the photos - you won't want to miss any! 

More photos and Another Silver Spring Bloggers article about the Seminary

A neighborhood of post war cape cods colonials ramblers and split levels.  Oakview is located in a convenient area of Silver Spring,  inside the beltway and approximately 2 miles to the Washington, D.C. border.  Oakview is bordered by Northwest Branch Park, the Beltway, New Hampshire Avenue and Stateside Drive.  There are 692 Single Family Homes in Oakview. Oakview has the most affordable single family homes in Silver Spring that are located INSIDE the Beltway!

Oakview's pride and joy is the Neighborhood Swim Club.  Built in the 1950's it was the first Community Swim Club  in Montgomery County.  The pool was refurbished recently and has a very active Swim Team and general Membership. Fun for all ages! The pool is celebrating it's 50th Year anniversary this Year and lots of celebration is planned in the community

Oakview can also boast of a newly constructed "state of the art" Montgomery County Elementary School built in 2005.  Roscoe Nix Elementary School 

Oakview has the Beautiful Northwest Branch Park as a natural Border.  The park offers hiking, biking and running.  The part of the park that borders Oakview has a large Northwest Branch Stream running through it.

                                                             Early Oakview History

     Late in the Civil War, a Mr. W.W. Rapley purchased some 382 acres of forest land, which covered all of present day Oakview from South Dilston Rd to what are now the Xaverian College grounds. The land was gradually cleared during the latter half of the nineteenth century and planted with crops of wheat, corn , hay and grain. A large house, surrounded by magnificent oaks, was built in the area of Cahart Place. These oaks remain as one of the reminders of the past.
 
     In the late nineteenth century, Washington's "400" could be seen on many Saturday nights driving up to the mansion in sleek black carriages, via a winding path, now known as Avenel Road. After the Rapley family purchased an interest in the old National Theater , stage personalities joined the high-ranking government officials at the gala events held at the Rapley home.
    
     By the turn of the century, cattle roamed the fields and some 50 thoroughbred horses graced the many barns surrounding the mansion. A small racetrack was built in the general area around South Dilston and Braddock Roads. The land south of the Rapley Esates was part of a track called "Hard struggle" and had been purchased late in the 19th century  by Mr. W.R. Smith. A Scotsman of the Cameron clan, he named the area "Cameronia" and built a house which was burned several years ago.  Mr. Smith planted some exotic trees of which still remain.
     
     Each Spring, the rolling fields of Cameronia became a mecca for picnickers who followed Sligo Creek to Carrol Avenue, then over to Brown's Corner (Piney Branch & University Blvd). The more adventurous continued on the path along Piney Branch to Avenel Road. Many hiked as far as the large barn on the top of the hill (site of Good Shepherd Methodist Church) from which they could survey the Rapley farm. Some even wandered down to the track to watch the horses perform over the steeplechase hurdles.
    
      The beginning of modern Oakview took place shortly after the end of World War II. One of the many  picnickers, a Mr. Ernest Brandt, decided to make this area his home and approached Mr. James Hyslop, who had purchased Cameronia in 1918. Although Mr. Hyslop did not wish to split one acre, he agreed to sell 12 acres which were duly purchased by Mr. Brandt and nine other WWII veterans living in Silver Spring.  The plot was divided into relatively equal sections and the ancestor of the OCA meeting took place in the Brandt home for the purpose of dividing the area. The ex-soldiers cleared the heavily-wooded area and named their street "Stateside Drive".
    
      In 1948 the Light Construction Company purchased the entire Rapley tract and the bulldozers began constuction of the Oakview subdivision. The first houses extended on both sides of Oakview Drive, which was paved down to Braddock Road.  Although paving ended here in 1950 houses were built on either side of Dilston Road running north from what is presently Oakview Drive to what was to become Moffet Road.  The rest of the story is too well known to need retelling. The rapid building of the remaining houses, the birth of OCA, the fight for school bus service and numerous other activities made Oakview what it is today.

This is a condensed version of an article written by BERNIE LIEB (ex-Citizen Editor 1956, 1957; OCA
President 1957-1958)

              Click Here to Search all homes available for Sale in Oakview, Silver Spring,  MD  20903

South Four Corners Neighborhood of Silver Spring

Boundaries: University Boulevard West and Dennis Avenue to the north. Colesville Road to the east. Forest Glen Road to the south and Tenbrook Drive to the west

 Highly desirable location close to Forest Glen Metro Station and Downtown Silver Spring.  Walking distance to recently renovated "Woodmoor Shopping Center" and a very friendly "Neighborhood Safeway Store" Bordered by Sligo Creek park with an abundance of nature, hiking-biking trails and recreation. This neighborhood has a very active Civic association, many events such as an annual COMMUNITY DAY and neigborhood yard sale. There are a lot of young families with children, a dynamic babysitting coop, a Large playground and community center on Forest Glen Road. There is a unique "small town" feel to South Four Corners.

Houses in South Four Corners

Developed Around the Original Argyle Country Club (Now Sligo Public Golf Course) before the Beltway bisected the country club grounds. Thus the Sudivision names such as, "Country Club View", "Fairway" and "Argyle Forest" The Oldest Houses in South Four Corners date back to the late 1920's and early 1930's. 

There are 5 houses in South Four Corners that make up a Montgomery County "Historic District".  They are the "Polychrome Houses" built by John Joseph Early in 1934 and 1935. The houses are outstanding examples of the Art Deco Style with richly ornamented appearance and relatively rare examples of pre-cast concrete panel constuction in single family homes for the time period. 3 polychrome houses are on Sutherland Road and 2 of the polychrome houses face Colesville Road near the exit ramp to the Beltway. A Silver Spring Blogger recently wrote this article about the Polychrome Houses.  A Recent Article in the Washington Post  is about these houses - from Montgomery County The Historic Polychrome House District Article and from 2005 another Washington Post article .  Everyone seems to be fascinated with the houses! 

Popular House Styles are the Cozy Cape Cods and Traditional Colonials built  before and during WWII.  During the post war building boom years -  the 1950's and 60's brought newer mid century modern ramblers and split levels to complete the neighborhood. 

Takoma Park, or "Granola Park" as some locals call it now, was the first planned suburban community of Washington, DC.  Founded in 1883, by Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, Takoma Park was developed along a branch of the B & O railroad. It was originally conceived as a "summer resort" area, as a healthful clean-water alternative to Washington, DC's malarial swamps. With a population of 18,000 it rests along the upper northeast boundary of D.C. and strattles Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland. 

B.F. Gilbert named his community TAKOMA an Indian word meaning "High Up - Near Heaven".  Takoma Park has it's own city government, police department, library and is served by Montgomery County Schools

Religion and politics has shaped the Takoma Park community. From the early 1900's to 1990, Takoma Park was the world headquarters of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Two of the church's institutions remain today, The Washington Adventist Hospital, and Columbia Union College. The coming of metro service to Takoma Park has made it a perfect "bedroom community" for young professionals. It is a 15 minute commute to the middle of Downtown D.C. by Metro from the Takoma Station on the Red Line. 

Takoma Park is a friendly "laid back", independent, small town with liberal politics.  The residents are politically active and have put in place a number of progressive measures such as the declaration of a nuclear-free zone and legal recognition of non-marital partnerships.  

In the historic district you will find grand old Victorians, Bungalows, American Four Squares and other old timey styles, along tree-lined streets. 

The Old Town offers an eclectic, funky mix of small, locally owned specialty shops and small restaurants, cafes and a very popular FOOD COOP.  From the end of April to mid December there is a farmers market every Sunday in the center of town. To celebrate July 4th, the town puts on its own parade and its own fireworks display.


In 2008 there were 100 sales of single family detached homes in Takoma Park, sales prices range from a low of $200,000 for a three bedroom one bath brick colonial in need of total renovation to a high of $1,005,000 for a completely restored 7 Bedroom, 5 1/2 Bath Victorian.  The median price for a single family home in Takoma Park in 2008 is $429,700.

                         Single Family Homes Currently for Sale in Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

50 New Condominiums were Sold in Downtown Silver Spring, MD from January 2006 to the present. Over 75% of these were Sellers that bought before the Building was started and never moved in. Statistics are taken from the Metropolitan Regional Information Services for Realtors. The MRIS shows only those Sales that went through Real Estate Brokers.  The MRIS does not show private sales or all of the Sales that went through the Original Builder.

23 - 1 Bedroom Condos were SOLD - The average List (Asking) Price for a One Bedroom was $327,877 and the Average SOLD Price was $326,586. The average time a one bedroom took to sell was 41 Days (not bad! considering the current market place)

27 - 2 Bedroom Condos were SOLD - The average List (Asking) Price for a two Bedroom was $409,742 and the Average SOLD Price was $404,999 The average time on the market for a Two Bedroom was 35 Days (again, really good considering the market!)

Click here to Search all active resale condos in Downtown Silver Spring 
(Located Inside the beltway - zip 20910)

THE LIST OF PLANNED and COMING SOON Condominiums for Downtown Silver Spring

Ahhh .... Silver Spring, Md,  Unique, Diverse, Interesting, Rich in History, Revitalized, Historic, Charming and Modern all at the same time.  There is no place like Silver Spring and, with regards to Housing, still affordable compared to the rest of Montgomery County.  A Superb Location just over the Washington, DC line.

Silver Spring is located along the north east border of Washington D.C., a sprawling area that was named for a spring with sparkling bits of mica. The eastern arm of the red line serves the four metro stops in Silver Spring, the Silver Spring station, the Forest Glen station, the Wheaton Station and the Glenmont station.

Old Downtown Silver Spring has had an exciting and ongoing renewal, a multi-million dollar facelift that is providing a pedestrian friendly downtown area with shops and restaurants. The American Film Institute theatre, now housed in the historic Silver Spring theatre, the theatre is an internationally recognized, state-of-the-art film and video exhibition center.  The Discovery Channel's breathtaking headquarters  is located in downtown Silver Spring.  Silver Spring is about to get a new "State of the Art" Transit Center named after Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes, who was instrumental  in approprating funds for this mammoth project.

The "Close-in" older neighborhoods of Silver Spring with tree lined streets offer homes built in the late 1800's to the 1940's, providing the charm coveted by so many buyers.  These older neighborhoods such as Woodside are for the most part within easy walking distance of the downtown Silver Spring metro stop or the Forest Glen stop.  There is also some infill and a limited amount of new constrution occuring in Close-in Silver Spring, such as The Courts of Woodside and the Forest Glen Park Area.  Also, within the older downtown area are newly constructed chic urban condos, with more still planned and currently under construction.
Further out Colesville Road to Burtonsville and from Georgia Ave to Wheaton there are subdivisions built in the mid 1940's ,1950's and 1960's where architectural styles include ramblers, split levels, colonials and contemporary mid century modern homes.  There are newer townhome and condominium developments sprinkled throughout the Greater Silver Spring Area. We have something for everyone in Silver Spring, Md

Silver Spring's  parks  have more than just grass and trees.  Many include playgrounds, ball fields, basketball courts,  tennis courts, picnic areas, trails, ponds, recreation centers or indoor swim centers. Our parks and streams are beautiful and there are two very active groups of people that want to keep them that way, The Friends of Sligo Creek and Neighbors of the Northwest Branch  are pivate groups dedicated to keeping our two largest tributaries clean and healthy.

Real Estate Prices in Silver Spring

According to our MLS system -  In the year 2008 .....

The Highest Price paid for a Detached Single Family house in Silver Spring was $1,485,000 for a 5 Bedroom, 3 1/2 Bath home built in 1985 on 5 acres.
 
The lowest price paid for a Detached Single Family home in Silver Spring was $134,925 for a 3 Bedroom 1 Bath Rambler, built in 1949, in distressed condition.

The highest Price paid for a Townhouse in Silver Spring was $930,000 for a 4 Bedroom 3 1/2 Bath Newly Constructed Townhome built in Forest Glen Park.

The lowest price paid for a Townhouse was $110,000 for a 2 Bedroom 1 1/2 Bath Townhouse, built in 1972 in need of total rehab.

The highest price paid for a Condo was $533,000 for a 3 Bedroom 2 1/2 Bath Condo at the MICA in Downtown Silver Spring

The lowest price paid for a Condo was $70,000 for a 1 Bedroom 1 bath garden style condo built in 1975. 

A Diverse Supply of Housing in all price ranges! There Really is Something for Everyone in Silver Spring, Maryland For more information about Silver Spring, Maryland Homes, Neighborhoods and Real Estate Visit The Silver Spring Real Estate Team

                                                                   Local Silver Spring Blogs

The Silver Bee   Silver Spring Real Estate Blog The Author is Yours Truly, Debbie Cook, Realtor

Silver Spring Singular  In-the-know blogger, A survivor of the "mean streets of Silver Spring" and defender of the cause "There is NO S on the end of Silver Spring"  It is singular not plural!

Thayer Avenue  A Thayer Avenue resident that provides a forum for both his own immediate neighborhood (at  street level) and  larger issues within the Silver Spring community. Interspersed within all that are small things to amuse himself and, hopefully, a few others.

Just Up the Pike   (not the one in Rockville) A very savy 19 year old local with insights into development & politics of  Eastern Montgomery County.

Silver Spring Penquin  A Silver Spring resident gives a refreshing daily dose of Silver Spring Happenings 

Silver Spring Daily Photo  This is a MUST SEE Blog! Daily Artistic Photos from around Silver Spring

A Parent in Silver Spring   A Fun, Free Community Resource served with a side of humor that any parent in the DC Metro area will appreciate.

A Diverse Supply of Housing in all price ranges! There Really is Something for Everyone in Silver Spring, Maryland For more information about Silver Spring, Maryland Homes, Neighborhoods and Real Estate 
Visit  http://www.silverspringteam.com/