Sell me on Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are ethnic restaurants a plus or a minus. I say that as one rich then I lived with blocked them constantly. They allowed them but always trouble and brought up crime, quality of life issues, traffic and tons of garbage.

I am not sure what the rest of your message actually says but in regard to the first—what??? I would be very sad to live without Indian,Chinese, Thai, Italian, French, Mexican, Ethiopian, Lebanese, Greek, Salvadoran, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Central European restaurants within drivng/walking/delivery distance.

Cheap ethnic restaurants are one of the main draws of SS!!!!

I love cheap ethnic restaurants and am a short drive to them in Chevy Chase. Don’t need to live in SS. Too much multi-family housing and concrete ugliness. Even the nice neighborhoods like Woodside or other small pockets of SFH neighborhoods with pool clubs are too close to ugly strips.

This tells me everything I need to know about you, in order to consider the source.

Says the person on a forum that trashes anything under $1.2M that isn’t a SFH...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are ethnic restaurants a plus or a minus. I say that as one rich then I lived with blocked them constantly. They allowed them but always trouble and brought up crime, quality of life issues, traffic and tons of garbage.

I am not sure what the rest of your message actually says but in regard to the first—what??? I would be very sad to live without Indian,Chinese, Thai, Italian, French, Mexican, Ethiopian, Lebanese, Greek, Salvadoran, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Central European restaurants within drivng/walking/delivery distance.

Cheap ethnic restaurants are one of the main draws of SS!!!!

I love cheap ethnic restaurants and am a short drive to them in Chevy Chase. Don’t need to live in SS. Too much multi-family housing and concrete ugliness. Even the nice neighborhoods like Woodside or other small pockets of SFH neighborhoods with pool clubs are too close to ugly strips.

This tells me everything I need to know about you, in order to consider the source.

Says the person on a forum that trashes anything under $1.2M that isn’t a SFH...

DP. Is this place a hive mind where everyone has the same opinion? I live in a townhouse, in SS, that cost $400K. I love it. I don't trash things like that, and I don't think much of people who do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, man. This. Thread.

I assume that the OP is British, or of the Commonwealth, or educated in a British system from the spelling of neighboUrhood.

If correct, where and how the OP grew up is probably instrumental in their expectations and desires for home life. If you have to be *sold* on Silver Spring, then it probably isn't for you. I can understand the concerns over the current shape of downtown SS. It's a bit of a mess. The ever evolving purple line has been digging up roads for years now. Throw that on top of the non stop construction and things can look messy. Not that downtown Bethesda is all that different in terms of constant construction, but to each their own.

I live in Silver Spring and like it very much. Not in downtown though. Just outside. If you want old sub and semi-urban neighborhoods, there are plenty of options that surround downtown. If you want to live in a diverse area with a bunch of terrific restaurants that offer cuisines from around the globe, then come to the Spring. If you want to shop at lululemon then eat at an overpriced, mini chain restaurant, then Bethesda awaits. One choice is not superior to the other. It's a matter of taste.

I will say that vitriolic comments about Bethesda and "stay away" snipes are repugnant. So much for those pillars of tolerance and inclusion. As a SS resident, I welcome any and all people to our neighborhood. That even includes Trump folk. I won't agree with your views for one second, but you have the right to live wherever you choose. As an old person who has spent the bulk of their existence, and has generations of family members buried in Montgomery County, I am astounded at the amount of self righteous, intolerant, frankly hateful, individuals who label themselves as progressives, that have been implanting themselves all over MoCo, but especially in Silver Spring. MoCo has always been a conservatively liberal county, but now things have taken a full on Portland turn and I can not gauge when the rhetoric will morph into to full on stupidity. If you want things to get better in this country, it starts with engagement - not derision. I've talked a couple people to come down from the Trump tree. It *can* happen.

Also, way back in the day, Bethesda and Silver Spring weren't that different. Anyone remember McDonald's Raw Bar? Yup. Didn't think so. Then the 80's came. Bethesda grew while downtown Silver Spring sunk. If you think SS is rough now, you should have seen it 20 years ago before Doug Duncan lifted taxes and Whole Foods and Discovery can a running. Now change keeps coming for both areas, which has been great. Sure, I miss shopping for records at Vinyl Ink, but I can't wait to see what new things will pop up in the coming years. In the meantime, I'm going to get some coffee at Zed's and chill.

Wow. This is the OP. You are correct that I grew up in the British commonwealth and did my O and A levels. Then came to the US for college. Interesting that you caught that. Thank you to you and some of the other gracious and kind posters who genuinely tried to answer my question. I sincerely did not mean to offend anyone. The title of my post was perhaps a little thoughtless. I dashed off the title without thinking how it might sound. I think it makes sense to look in SS along with looking in Kensington and Takoma Park. Someone on this thread made a great point which I think made me realize why I don’t like downtown SS. There are no green spaces. No town commons or big fountain or plaza area in the town center which always helps embue a calming vibe. Instead it is all concrete and traffic spread out haphazardly in all directions. I’m not too worried about schools as Blair is on par with or better than Wilson HS and MC has more magnet options than DC. I’m not familiar enough with Northwood to comment on it. Our budget is probably about one million but we would prefer to spend less if possible. I like houses with character (not too generic), lots of light, a yard and some curb appeal. Friendly neighbors, of course. I’m fine with Bethesda but it is pricey and the vibe is a little intense for me.

If you value green space and fountains and calm there is no place that meets your criteria as much as Kensington. It literally has a fountain near the MARC station and has several parks including an English Garden.

I’d add Garrett Park to your list as well because of green space.

How is that traffic on Connecticut avenue? Or 355?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are ethnic restaurants a plus or a minus. I say that as one rich then I lived with blocked them constantly. They allowed them but always trouble and brought up crime, quality of life issues, traffic and tons of garbage.

I am not sure what the rest of your message actually says but in regard to the first—what??? I would be very sad to live without Indian,Chinese, Thai, Italian, French, Mexican, Ethiopian, Lebanese, Greek, Salvadoran, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Central European restaurants within drivng/walking/delivery distance.

Cheap ethnic restaurants are one of the main draws of SS!!!!

I love cheap ethnic restaurants and am a short drive to them in Chevy Chase. Don’t need to live in SS. Too much multi-family housing and concrete ugliness. Even the nice neighborhoods like Woodside or other small pockets of SFH neighborhoods with pool clubs are too close to ugly strips.

This tells me everything I need to know about you, in order to consider the source.

Says the person on a forum that trashes anything under $1.2M that isn’t a SFH...

DP. Is this place a hive mind where everyone has the same opinion? I live in a townhouse, in SS, that cost $400K. I love it. I don't trash things like that, and I don't think much of people who do.

There are regular posts of “what’s wrong with this sh!t hole”, “what can I get for $2M” and “not a SFH? Eww”. Anyone who even knows about this forum is a rebuke to progressivism, so people can stop pretending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the area around Glenwood pool/Flora Singer ES good? Looks like a lot of multi-family housing and old housing stock. But people seem to like it. I can’t tell if they’re just boosters for the area because they care about their property values or they want to build a close community.

Well I don't need to boost my neighborhood - houses are flying off the market. I'm actually lamenting it a little bit as it's going to be harder for young families.

Anyway, if you walk around my hood, you'll see many people have done two story additions. People are sinking $300+ more into the housing stock here because we love it. It's a great community. But definitely not trying to sell anyone on it - it's not necessary and I'm totally aware that there are people who look down it. Shrug, everyone's mileage varies.

I know doctors and scientists in that neighborhood but they are surrounded by low income housing on those barrack looking Fields apartments. Those people might cause problems. I don’t think Bethesda has this problem.

“Those people might cause problems “.

[Anonymous]

OP, I live near DTSS, but not in DTSS. I am not offended by your comments about DTSS - it is really poorly designed and the traffic is always terrible. There are greener spaces outside of DTSS - Takoma Park, as you mentioned, and parts of East Silver Spring and Sligo Creek that are right next to Takoma Park. Kensington and west Silver Spring are also neighborhoods worth checking out. A lot of the houses are unattractive, no getting around that, but I think with some persistence you will find something. I'm seeing more and more renovations too so maybe you'll find something that's already been updated. Though the market is really tough right now. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, man. This. Thread.

I assume that the OP is British, or of the Commonwealth, or educated in a British system from the spelling of neighboUrhood.

If correct, where and how the OP grew up is probably instrumental in their expectations and desires for home life. If you have to be *sold* on Silver Spring, then it probably isn't for you. I can understand the concerns over the current shape of downtown SS. It's a bit of a mess. The ever evolving purple line has been digging up roads for years now. Throw that on top of the non stop construction and things can look messy. Not that downtown Bethesda is all that different in terms of constant construction, but to each their own.

I live in Silver Spring and like it very much. Not in downtown though. Just outside. If you want old sub and semi-urban neighborhoods, there are plenty of options that surround downtown. If you want to live in a diverse area with a bunch of terrific restaurants that offer cuisines from around the globe, then come to the Spring. If you want to shop at lululemon then eat at an overpriced, mini chain restaurant, then Bethesda awaits. One choice is not superior to the other. It's a matter of taste.

I will say that vitriolic comments about Bethesda and "stay away" snipes are repugnant. So much for those pillars of tolerance and inclusion. As a SS resident, I welcome any and all people to our neighborhood. That even includes Trump folk. I won't agree with your views for one second, but you have the right to live wherever you choose. As an old person who has spent the bulk of their existence, and has generations of family members buried in Montgomery County, I am astounded at the amount of self righteous, intolerant, frankly hateful, individuals who label themselves as progressives, that have been implanting themselves all over MoCo, but especially in Silver Spring. MoCo has always been a conservatively liberal county, but now things have taken a full on Portland turn and I can not gauge when the rhetoric will morph into to full on stupidity. If you want things to get better in this country, it starts with engagement - not derision. I've talked a couple people to come down from the Trump tree. It *can* happen.

Also, way back in the day, Bethesda and Silver Spring weren't that different. Anyone remember McDonald's Raw Bar? Yup. Didn't think so. Then the 80's came. Bethesda grew while downtown Silver Spring sunk. If you think SS is rough now, you should have seen it 20 years ago before Doug Duncan lifted taxes and Whole Foods and Discovery can a running. Now change keeps coming for both areas, which has been great. Sure, I miss shopping for records at Vinyl Ink, but I can't wait to see what new things will pop up in the coming years. In the meantime, I'm going to get some coffee at Zed's and chill.

Wow. This is the OP. You are correct that I grew up in the British commonwealth and did my O and A levels. Then came to the US for college. Interesting that you caught that. Thank you to you and some of the other gracious and kind posters who genuinely tried to answer my question. I sincerely did not mean to offend anyone. The title of my post was perhaps a little thoughtless. I dashed off the title without thinking how it might sound. I think it makes sense to look in SS along with looking in Kensington and Takoma Park. Someone on this thread made a great point which I think made me realize why I don’t like downtown SS. There are no green spaces. No town commons or big fountain or plaza area in the town center which always helps embue a calming vibe. Instead it is all concrete and traffic spread out haphazardly in all directions. I’m not too worried about schools as Blair is on par with or better than Wilson HS and MC has more magnet options than DC. I’m not familiar enough with Northwood to comment on it. Our budget is probably about one million but we would prefer to spend less if possible. I like houses with character (not too generic), lots of light, a yard and some curb appeal. Friendly neighbors, of course. I’m fine with Bethesda but it is pricey and the vibe is a little intense for me.

If you value green space and fountains and calm there is no place that meets your criteria as much as Kensington. It literally has a fountain near the MARC station and has several parks including an English Garden.

I’d add Garrett Park to your list as well because of green space.

How is that traffic on Connecticut avenue? Or 355?

Just as bad as Georgia Ave. They all suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the area around Glenwood pool/Flora Singer ES good? Looks like a lot of multi-family housing and old housing stock. But people seem to like it. I can’t tell if they’re just boosters for the area because they care about their property values or they want to build a close community.

Well I don't need to boost my neighborhood - houses are flying off the market. I'm actually lamenting it a little bit as it's going to be harder for young families.

Anyway, if you walk around my hood, you'll see many people have done two story additions. People are sinking $300+ more into the housing stock here because we love it. It's a great community. But definitely not trying to sell anyone on it - it's not necessary and I'm totally aware that there are people who look down it. Shrug, everyone's mileage varies.

I know doctors and scientists in that neighborhood but they are surrounded by low income housing on those barrack looking Fields apartments. Those people might cause problems. I don’t think Bethesda has this problem.

Yeah rich kids never have any behavior issues.

+1

There is no need to speculate about whether people (like me) that live in apartments cause "issues" in a school. The MCPS school climate surveys (https://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php?sch=770 ) tell you how teachers feel about safety at the school. The ones with behavior issues show it in those survey results. Flora Singer is not one of those schools.

[Anonymous]

lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, man. This. Thread.

I assume that the OP is British, or of the Commonwealth, or educated in a British system from the spelling of neighboUrhood.

If correct, where and how the OP grew up is probably instrumental in their expectations and desires for home life. If you have to be *sold* on Silver Spring, then it probably isn't for you. I can understand the concerns over the current shape of downtown SS. It's a bit of a mess. The ever evolving purple line has been digging up roads for years now. Throw that on top of the non stop construction and things can look messy. Not that downtown Bethesda is all that different in terms of constant construction, but to each their own.

I live in Silver Spring and like it very much. Not in downtown though. Just outside. If you want old sub and semi-urban neighborhoods, there are plenty of options that surround downtown. If you want to live in a diverse area with a bunch of terrific restaurants that offer cuisines from around the globe, then come to the Spring. If you want to shop at lululemon then eat at an overpriced, mini chain restaurant, then Bethesda awaits. One choice is not superior to the other. It's a matter of taste.

I will say that vitriolic comments about Bethesda and "stay away" snipes are repugnant. So much for those pillars of tolerance and inclusion. As a SS resident, I welcome any and all people to our neighborhood. That even includes Trump folk. I won't agree with your views for one second, but you have the right to live wherever you choose. As an old person who has spent the bulk of their existence, and has generations of family members buried in Montgomery County, I am astounded at the amount of self righteous, intolerant, frankly hateful, individuals who label themselves as progressives, that have been implanting themselves all over MoCo, but especially in Silver Spring. MoCo has always been a conservatively liberal county, but now things have taken a full on Portland turn and I can not gauge when the rhetoric will morph into to full on stupidity. If you want things to get better in this country, it starts with engagement - not derision. I've talked a couple people to come down from the Trump tree. It *can* happen.

Also, way back in the day, Bethesda and Silver Spring weren't that different. Anyone remember McDonald's Raw Bar? Yup. Didn't think so. Then the 80's came. Bethesda grew while downtown Silver Spring sunk. If you think SS is rough now, you should have seen it 20 years ago before Doug Duncan lifted taxes and Whole Foods and Discovery can a running. Now change keeps coming for both areas, which has been great. Sure, I miss shopping for records at Vinyl Ink, but I can't wait to see what new things will pop up in the coming years. In the meantime, I'm going to get some coffee at Zed's and chill.

Wow. This is the OP. You are correct that I grew up in the British commonwealth and did my O and A levels. Then came to the US for college. Interesting that you caught that. Thank you to you and some of the other gracious and kind posters who genuinely tried to answer my question. I sincerely did not mean to offend anyone. The title of my post was perhaps a little thoughtless. I dashed off the title without thinking how it might sound. I think it makes sense to look in SS along with looking in Kensington and Takoma Park. Someone on this thread made a great point which I think made me realize why I don’t like downtown SS. There are no green spaces. No town commons or big fountain or plaza area in the town center which always helps embue a calming vibe. Instead it is all concrete and traffic spread out haphazardly in all directions. I’m not too worried about schools as Blair is on par with or better than Wilson HS and MC has more magnet options than DC. I’m not familiar enough with Northwood to comment on it. Our budget is probably about one million but we would prefer to spend less if possible. I like houses with character (not too generic), lots of light, a yard and some curb appeal. Friendly neighbors, of course. I’m fine with Bethesda but it is pricey and the vibe is a little intense for me.

If you value green space and fountains and calm there is no place that meets your criteria as much as Kensington. It literally has a fountain near the MARC station and has several parks including an English Garden.

I’d add Garrett Park to your list as well because of green space.

How is that traffic on Connecticut avenue? Or 355?

Just as bad as Georgia Ave. They all suck.

The difference is that if you live east of Connecticut in Kensington or anywhere in Garrett Park you can be walkable to a lot of parks and the MARC without having to cross any major roads. If you’re east of Connecticut in the Town of Kensington you can walk to several restaurants, MARC, Safeway, the post office, boutiques, and several parks without even crossing a main road.

[Anonymous]

Georgia Avenue is worse than Connecticut, no question. No pretty median, crappy commerce. Right near “desirable” Woodside, eg, we have a wig shop, a psychic, a storefront that has been vacant for almost ten years (by Nothing Bundt), a terrible car wash that f%^ up traffic all the way on to the beltway. It’s horrible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgia Avenue is worse than Connecticut, no question. No pretty median, crappy commerce. Right near “desirable” Woodside, eg, we have a wig shop, a psychic, a storefront that has been vacant for almost ten years (by Nothing Bundt), a terrible car wash that f%^ up traffic all the way on to the beltway. It’s horrible!

It's obscene that the Flagship car wash in Rockville costs less than the car wash you're talking about on Georgia near the Aldi. The bathrooms in that car wash are disgusting, tiles are falling off the walls everywhere, the waiting room smells. The whole place is a mess. It's a lesson that you can open a car wash anywhere and it will still make money, no matter how bad it looks.