Comments on Montgomery council votes for townhouses at Chelsea School - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by Ken Firestone

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:25:02 EDT

Anyone know why Marc Elrich voted against this?

Comment by dan reed!

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:39:24 EDT

I don't know when this will get built, but the hard part is basically over. What we know is that EYA has to get their site plan approved and apply for permits, and over the summer they'll have an open house to discuss the project with neighbors. Beyond that it's a matter of having construction funds, and I don't know anything about that. Or, of course, what recourse the opposing neighbors have.

Comment by Patrick Thornton

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:31:21 EDT

Does anyone know an ETA on this development?

Even with it, Silver Spring still really lacks townhouses, which may make it difficult for Millennials to stay in Silver Spring as they get older. Many no longer want single family homes, and the DTSS area really doesn't have many apartment/condo units bigger than 2 bedrooms. Townhouses are a logical next step for Millennials as their families expand.

Unfortunately, the DTSS area is really underserved by townhouses. Fenton Village would be an excellent place to build more, but I haven't heard of any projects on the way.

The county council needs to keep this in mind when it faces more NIMBY opposition in the future to townhouses and other development that is in demand. The people who only want leafy suburbs don't represent the future of this area, not do they understand what the largest generation in U.S history wants. Montgomery County must stay competitive with other jurisdictions.

Comment by Tina S

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:38:39 EDT

Glad to see that the Council passed this. Chelsea Court is a logical transition from the core downtown to the leafy single-family home neighborhoods surrounding. EYA builds classy homes and I love their slogan "Life Within Walking Distance." Chelsea Court fulfills that goal.

Comment by Rebecca

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:10:33 EDT

Good to see that NIMBYs aren't able to derail all sensible, reasonably well-designed projects. Downtown Silver Spring needs to continue to add residential density if we ever hope to get rid of that monstrosity known as City Place.

Comment by Lindemann

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:04:47 EDT

Good news for supporters of totally reasonable density increases in DTSS.

Comment by Kyle W

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:33:06 EDT

@Drumz

I had Poe's Law in my head! That was so illogical haha!

Great to keep seeing progress.

Comment by drumz

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:17:20 EDT

Just playin' y'all. EYA does great stuff this will actually do more to help define silver spring's sense of place.

I just enjoy hysterics and hand wringing about how townhouses fundamentally alter the character of an area considered to be a downtown for large sections of Montgomery county.

Comment by MLD

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:11:45 EDT

Poe's Law, drumz.

Comment by Kyle W

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:00:32 EDT

@Drumz

Trying to figure out when downtown Silver Spring was a leafy suburban suburb, and how adding 63 new families will somehow turn it into a "soul-less urban wasteland..." Whatever that means.

Comment by jnb

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:28:20 EDT

Opposition brought to you by the rhetorical masters of "Less dense makes sense" and "No train on Wayne." Hey hey, baa baa...

Comment by Patrick Thornton

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:27:18 EDT

Boom.

A win for Silver Spring.

Comment by Thayer-D

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:08:27 EDT

FInally. There's a serious disconect with those who proport to like sustainability and smart growth, except when it shows up on their front door. One example would be council memger Elrich who's Bus Rapid Transit proposal is the smartest idea since the Purple line, yet he opposed this project. What does he think the BRT will bring those areas it will pass through?

Comment by drumz

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:54:35 EDT

The 63 individuals/families able to buy new construction townhomes will be the sole contributing factor that turns Silver Spring from a leafy, quiet suburb to a soul-less urban wasteland that Charles Dickens could not have imagined. You were warned Montgomery County.