Comments on: DC club owner still wants in on music-hall action

By: Daniel Morales

Daniel Morales — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:36:21 +0000

“Mike” you are right. Having been corrected on the Lee group needing no approval process to develope their parking lot (http://www.thayeravenue.com/), I take back my earlier note and say to the County Council…
“come on guys”. Especially in this crappy economic climate.

By: carlos

carlos — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:37:36 +0000

Hurwitz is more interested in keeping competition away from his 9:30 club. The council should call his bluff and ask him to put up a $4 million bond if he is serious about his offer.

It’s time to move on build the damn thing. Live Nation is not going to wait forever and I understand they will not extend the agreement again (due to expire in October or November).

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:56:56 +0000

Read the legislation. The plan still has to go through an approval process. CC, you and others who feel the same way need to write the council and tell them to pass the ZTA and SRA,

By: CC

CC — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:46:06 +0000

We have waited long enough. Approve the zoning changes and move on. The zoning changes are appropriate, because they only apply when a developer donates land that is used to create a public amenity, which, under the bill, the Music Venue will be. Not too many devlopers are are going to donate a $3mill piece of property to the county without wanting something in return.

Silver Spring desparately needs this project to push the revitalization effort forward and to create true synergy with Discovery and AFI. This project will be a huge boost for DTSS and make it a entertainment destination not only locally, but nationally. The funding is place, so let’s get it done and rock and roll withouth further delay!!

By: RW

RW — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:15:59 +0000

After reading the letter I think we really have to consider what type of budget shortfall the county is in. Giving away 8 million to a company in Los Angeles is not going to help our schools, hospitals, libraries, or traffic problems. We all want a good music venue in DTSS, but it shouldn't be paid for with tax dollars.

By: Thayer-D

Thayer-D — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:28:03 +0000

I’m starting to think we should consider the Huwitz of the 9:30 club fame. Either way, I want music for Silver Spring.

I could stomach the Fillmore as public space requirement for the future Lee development because of the highly urban site. I could then stomach the right to develop their property with-in the next 15 years because property owners have the prerogative to develop their property when it suits them anyway.

But giving them a pass with no formal approval process for their future development is too much. Every property owner has to go through that hurdle, it’s the only way the public has a say on how their home (Silver Spring) get’s developed. Also I hear Live Nation is in talks with the Jemal group for some kind of venue near the convention site and the 9:30 club is a local joint.

I know why the Lee group is wary of developing because of getting burned in the late 80’s with their Lee building, but they are grown up capitalists, they shouldn’t hold Silver Spring hostage because they want the government to protect them if they fail again.