Photo: Buh-bye. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
A condemned building came down recently along East-West Highway, allowing the county to cut a pedestrian path through one thick South Silver Spring block.
Around Jun 17, heavy equipment tore at the gray, one-story building at 1008 East-West Hwy. Demolition of the former auto-repair shop is part of the county’s plan to construct a path between East-West and Kennett Street, Yvette Freeman, Silver Spring’s urban district manager, told the urban-district advisory committee earlier this month.
The county’s larger game plan is to provide pedestrian shortcuts through South Silver Spring’s large industrial blocks. Other paths — the one connecting Kennett Street with Eastern Avenue, and the Arts Alley from Georgia Avenue to Blair Mill Way — are already open for use.
Freeman did not say when construction on the new path would wrap. (I’m on it, people.)
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Which condemned auto repair place was it? I can think of a couple, sadly enough.
The site is just to the north of Sports Honda.
Editor’s note: Oops, I mean to the WEST of Sports Honda! — JD (Jun 30, 2009)
This is also one of the places in the central business district where Park and Planning has proposed a new park
Ped crossings are good. Parks are good. But so are auto-repair places, and I fear they are an endangered species around here. These are working-class folks doing tangible, useful things. Even people who do not own cars depend upon taxis, police and other public service vehicles. I have seen all of the above at repair shops in SS.
IF the auto shops respected ped rights and did not park on sidewalks, speed down narrow alleys to “test” their repairs, leak serious amounts of toxic chemicals into our ground water, etc. I’d be a bit more sympathetic to these businesses. If they clean up their collective act, I’d then be behind them.
Of course, what used to be in that building was a very good Italian Restaurant–went out of business in the early 80’s. Was open late, had a bar, a truly good neighborhood spot.
The last occupant of this building was Thrify Car Rental which relocated within downtown Silver Spring on Georgia Avenue.
Good..so now they should really do it right and open the (now closed) ped tunnel behind the Veridan so we can walk down the new path, scoot behind the Verdian and pop up at the old train station—then we can stroll over to DTSS and spend money.
“so now they should really do it right and open the (now closed) ped tunnel behind the Veridan”
Absolutely. Is there any way that will ever happen though? It’s great that they’re clearing access to Eastern Ave., but the real problem for us living in South Silver Spring is access to Georgia without having to walk all the way around. Seems like Eric’s suggestion is a good one.
More oed access is great but how about FINALLY fixing the sidewalk in front of Acorn Park? It’d be nice to be able to walk 410 without being forced to walk into traffic.