The county council approved a change to the zoning law last week that would jack up building heights in Silver Spring’s Ripley District, The Gazette reports.
The change would allow buildings to reach up to 200 feet in the Ripley District if ground-floor retail space is thrown into the mix. Building heights in that area previously maxed out at 143 feet.
According to the amended zoning law, roof-mounted gear designed to “collect or radiate electromagnetic waves” — a satellite dish, for example — wouldn’t be counted in a building’s final height.
County council member Valerie Ervin (D-District 5), who cosponsored the bill, has said previously that the zoning change wasn’t targeting any specific tenant or industry. However, one broadcasting company — National Public Radio — has expressed interest in moving to Silver Spring.
Some area residents have expressed support for increased building heights in the neighborhood.
“It only makes sense that we increase density where it can be handled,” said Jason Gedeik, a South Silver Spring resident at a public hearing in October. Without additional height, Silver Spring would lose its competitive advantage over other areas, he added.
David Fogel, who spoke at the same public hearing on behalf of the South Silver Spring Neighborhood Association, called the proposal “the smartest of smart-growth policy.”
The 200-foot maximum height would match those of the NOAA buildings along East-West Highway, on the opposite side of the rail tracks from the Ripley District. Compare that with the maximum height of 90 feet along either side of Georgia Avenue, which serves as the district’s eastern border.
Advocates for historic preservation support the 90-foot limit along Georgia Avenue. However, preservation advocate George French, of Takoma Park, testified in October that he would welcome taller buildings in the Ripley District, as long as they were built behind the older, shorter structures on Georgia Avenue.
The change to the zoning law kicks it on Dec 10, The Gazette writes.
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I’m certainly for reasonable development and progress but am somewhat concerned about losing the old flavor and smaller scale of downtown Silver Spring which still exists along Fenton Street, for instance. With all the development we’ve seen in the past 7 years, there is precious little left of the old downtown Silver Spring. We need to think twice before sacrificing that.
The older Silver Spring was a slum. Those ugly old shops on Fenton, Bonifant, and so forth can go away, as far as I’m concerned (and I’m a regular patron of a couple!).
I agree with DMZ, these aren’t historic buildings we’re talking about, they are what remains of the old depleted Silver Spring. Let’s continue the boom, not long for the “good old days” that weren’t so good.
I’m more worried about the potential displacement of the Shepherd’s Table soup kitchen and shelter. It is at the perfect location now close to public transit and main arteries — after decades of shifting around and being out as it was inside one residential neighborhood after another around the SS downtown area. Thinking that the soon-to-be-vacant SS library site on Colesville & Spring may be the next spot for it that makes sense. Maybe the county will do right and donate the land & building to them.
Last I heard that land has already been bought by a home developer.
Shepherd’s Table should move across the street to Fenton Village.
Really, Bob? Any reason for that suggested placement? That would be a few blocks farther than just “across the street.” Keep the shelter on a main artery – such as GA, Colesville, etc. puts the clients on a main bus line and easy walk to the metro to go between the Rockville and downtown DC shelters for lunch/breakfast/overnight. Shepherd’s is dinner only.