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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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. [/quote]

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.[/quote]

But there is a "commons" -- there is the ice skating rink (yes, it's in winter, but in summer people hang out there). And there is a fountain. And on weekends there are bands that play across from it. That street has become a pedestrian zone and tons of families hang out there.  This area is the "commons."

No, it's not like a traditional European city where there is a central plaza with cathedral and fountain and plague monument and outdoor market open every day.  But there is a fountain, it is a pedestrian zone, and it's where people congregate, there and down the way where the outdoor ice arena is. I mean, I'd prefer something like Haarlem's Grote Maarkt or Leuven's Oude Markt or one of the adorable market squares in the small towns of the Czech Republic. But you won't find those in the US.

As for green spaces, there's a park right in DTSS, next to the old library. And there's Sligo Creek which runs for miles through Silver Spring and is close to DTSS.

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