Well, after reading this thread I would never move to Silver Spring, because the people seem like real a-holes!

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.

OP, I feel the same way. Silver Spring has some nice restaurants and neighborhoods, and the proximity to DC is a plus but ultimately for the same reasons you mentioned, we opted to move elsewhere. We actually ended up in a totally different direction and moved to Kentlands and are very happy we did. We can walk to WF, Starbucks, restaurants, etc. Yes, once we're outside of the community we have to drive to places but we have to drive to places too for the most part, living in SS. I also like the stores and shopping options better in Gaithersburg and often go to Crown or Rio which I find much more appealing than the hustle and bustle and grit of DT SS. Commute became a non-issue for us too since we are now permanently remote for most of the week.

I'm one of the earlier PPs (with the list of things I like about DTSS) and there's an underlying dynamic here that might explain some of the defensiveness.

Those of us who have chosen to live in Silver Spring (or Takoma Park or Wheaton) are largely tired to having (mostly) white folks come in and start "just asking questions" about our neighborhoods, schools, and preferences.

These threads, whether on DCUM or local listserves or FB groups, are often started by people who come in with an attitude of "convince me." For a lot of us, we're sick of trying to convince people who don't share our values.

So, I'm not going to do it anymore. My kids are thriving at their local public schools. I genuinely like my neighbors and my neighborhood. If it's not for OP, that's fine. Property values suggest that there's someone else right behind her that would like to live over here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

Ha, no. I could afford Bethesda or SS, and I prefer SS. DT Bethesda truly does not appeal at all. DT SS is fun and active. And I prefer more down to earth people and schools.

I think both downtown Bethesda and downtown silver spring are mediocre. It's funny how everyone thinks everyone in Bethesda is some millionaire with a butler or something. I can't easily differentiate between silver spring "people" and Bethesda "people." I live in NW DC, I'm from the area, and yeah - I think I know more than 90% of people in this thread about these neighborhoods because I've lived in both of them (and NW DC and NE DC). SS has more crime than Bethesda. The schools are NOT good. They just aren't.

Have you actually been in the schools? Met all of the staff and students? People are so quick to label a school without actually spending time in one. I’ve worked in Northwood High school (and a few others in the county, elementary and high school, while also having friends who worked in W schools) and I know all about the school ratings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

Ha, no. I could afford Bethesda or SS, and I prefer SS. DT Bethesda truly does not appeal at all. DT SS is fun and active. And I prefer more down to earth people and schools.

I think both downtown Bethesda and downtown silver spring are mediocre. It's funny how everyone thinks everyone in Bethesda is some millionaire with a butler or something. I can't easily differentiate between silver spring "people" and Bethesda "people." I live in NW DC, I'm from the area, and yeah - I think I know more than 90% of people in this thread about these neighborhoods because I've lived in both of them (and NW DC and NE DC). SS has more crime than Bethesda. The schools are NOT good. They just aren't.

Blair seems good enough for our family. I don’t love either downtown in terms of planning/design, but I think it’s absurd to claim Bethesda is so much better.

I agree, I don't think it's SO much better. But the people upthread insulting OP rubbed me the wrong way; she obviously has a valid point and their defensiveness made me full body cringe.

I own a business in silver spring. In the last 5 years, a lot has changed in downtown silver spring and I can see how the demographics are changing downtown. There is so much development going on, take for example twin buildings going up next to sheraton on Georgia. The neighborhoods surrounding it are going to explode in value over the next 10 years. Personally I dont like the hustle and bustle of downtown but its good for business and its a good investment. If you want to make a good investment, are okay with the hustle and bustle and the like the school system, go for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

Ha, no. I could afford Bethesda or SS, and I prefer SS. DT Bethesda truly does not appeal at all. DT SS is fun and active. And I prefer more down to earth people and schools.

I think both downtown Bethesda and downtown silver spring are mediocre. It's funny how everyone thinks everyone in Bethesda is some millionaire with a butler or something. I can't easily differentiate between silver spring "people" and Bethesda "people." I live in NW DC, I'm from the area, and yeah - I think I know more than 90% of people in this thread about these neighborhoods because I've lived in both of them (and NW DC and NE DC). SS has more crime than Bethesda. The schools are NOT good. They just aren't.

Blair seems good enough for our family. I don’t love either downtown in terms of planning/design, but I think it’s absurd to claim Bethesda is so much better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

Ha, no. I could afford Bethesda or SS, and I prefer SS. DT Bethesda truly does not appeal at all. DT SS is fun and active. And I prefer more down to earth people and schools.

I think both downtown Bethesda and downtown silver spring are mediocre. It's funny how everyone thinks everyone in Bethesda is some millionaire with a butler or something. I can't easily differentiate between silver spring "people" and Bethesda "people." I live in NW DC, I'm from the area, and yeah - I think I know more than 90% of people in this thread about these neighborhoods because I've lived in both of them (and NW DC and NE DC). SS has more crime than Bethesda. The schools are NOT good. They just aren't.

Anonymous wrote:all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

As someone who grew up in MoCo, I know exactly what Bethesda is “nicer” and more expensive.

Anonymous wrote:all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

Ha, no. I could afford Bethesda or SS, and I prefer SS. DT Bethesda truly does not appeal at all. DT SS is fun and active. And I prefer more down to earth people and schools.

all these people triggered by OP's question and insulting her are so embarassing. bethesda is large, and everyone knows deep down its nicer. that's why its more expensive. i don't really feel a huge difference between downtown bethesda and downtown silver spring, but if people think the neighborhoods in bethesda or the schools are worse than silver spring .... they're either lying to themselves, have only lived in this area for 5 years or something and don't know sh*t about the region, or delusional. give me a break.

I live in Woodside, used to live in Forest Glen. I wouldn’t worry about the downtown area if you like the little neighborhoods and diversity and people! Come on over! My teen kids like dtSS just fine, and I don’t really have to go there very often. For dining out we do Thai in Wheaton, fancy in Bethesda, other stuff in TP. And when we need to we’ll go to El Sapo in dtSS etc. If you move here you’ll find that it’s not a dealbreaker, the vibe of it. You’ll be close to lots of stuff and you’ll figure out what works with traffic etc. The teens like the hangout space - ice rink in the winter area... Anyway/ good luck. Come on over! 😊

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in downtown SS and love it. We are a ten minute walk from Rock Creek Park, so easy to get to downtown DC, lots of playgrounds. If we could buy in close-in SS (Woodside) or those townhouses across from the metro station I would feel like I've made it in life. We are people who prefer hole in the wall Ethiopian food to high end Bethesda restaurants, and Bethesda has too many White people for me honestly. I grew up in Bethesda and it's nice, but so not me.

When did this become acceptable to say? Smh.

When whit ppl pay a premium to avoid minorities like in Bethesda and AU Park.

Or maybe they just pay a premium for a nicer downtown with better schools? Why shouldn’t they if they have the money and it’s their preference... not EVERY discussion has to come back to race.... it’s exhausting

Thanks for playing the caucasian naivete game in 2021. As if better schools are not directly linked to racist zoning, white flight and deliberately underfunded schools. This is not even novel or scandalous info. Idk what country you live in but in America, the country where ppl enslaved people to avoid doing work and then created policies to over centuries to ensure those some ppl would never ever be their equals, it usually always HAS to come back to race.

But enjoy your white enclave!

Can you please tell us about a country where “everything is not about race?” Also, by your logic you should send your kid to a school in a war torn Central American country because these countries have been impoverished through a mix of racism, American colonialism, and the same kind of historical forces that made the neglected neighborhoods in America that you’re referring to the way they are. By your logic you’re benefitting from living in a racist country. Do you feel bad about that? Are you going to uproot your family to rectify it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sorry, didn’t mean to offend anyone. I like the diversity in SS and some of the neighbourhoods are nice. People seem friendly.
It’s just that I have been to downtown SS many times now and it is a bit depressing. I’m fine with urban grit but there is something about the SS downtown that I find jarring. It is not designed well and many of the buildings are ugly and rundown. I love ethnic food. It’s just that the area feels utterly charmless. The WF is nice but the parking lot there gets crazy on the weekends. I was surprised at the traffic and congestion in downtown on Friday evenings. I just feel it would add to my stress level if I had to go there a lot. The farmers market is very nice. Maybe it is fine to live there but avoid downtown and instead frequent Takoma Park, Bethesda and Rockville instead. Even the metro station looks imposing and uninviting. Good to hear there are nice parks around. We are also looking at Kensington. I’m not a huge Bethesda fan but I would say the Bethesda downtown beats SS by a mile. I guess that visual aesthetics are important to me. I could never live in an ugly house even if the inside was very nice.

OP, I lived near SS for 16 years and worked in downtown SS for 6 and I agree with you 100%. I think the people being mean to you are just being defensive. FWIW, I like a lot of the neighborhoods in SS and like the people there better than in Bethesda but anyone who argues that DTSS is as nice as or nicer than Bethesda is deluded or just trying to justify their choice to live there.

Seconded. Silver Spring has a lot of nice neighborhoods. Woodside is great, Forest Glen is an under appreciated gem as is the neighborhoods around Four Corners. But people on here saying that Downtown SS is nicer than downtown Bethesda are delusional. Forget about the architecture arguments or the subjective views about soul, just consider that downtown Bethesda is contained on one side of a busy road (Wisconsin Ave) and you don’t have to walk across a busy highway to get to the main part from the Metro, unlike Silver Spring, where the downtown is only accessible from the Metro across Georgia Ave and the whole downtown is poorly planned and broken up by large roads. Concerns about getting hit by a car or living in a poorly planned urban center have nothing to do with demographics. Columbia Heights is just as diverse and has more “soul,” architectural character, and is most importantly much more walkable and better planned. Ditto Takoma Park.

Sorry, disagree that downtown Bethesda is preferable to DTSS. I would say you’re delusional, but that’s just silly to argue about preferences.

De gustibus non est disputandum.