Silver Spring...trending up? Or not? (Bethesda, Cloverly: sales, crime, hotel)

[GeorgeSpelvin]

I've been in Silver Spring for about 3 months. Part of it, mainly downtown and the area west of Georgia Avenue, seems up-and-coming. People keep telling me that Silver Spring has really done a turnaround compared to the "dive" it was a decade ago. There does appear to be a lot of building going on in the vicinity of the Metro station as well as a fairly vibrant scene downtown.

However...you don't have to go too far outside the renovated part of downtown to find plenty of seedy areas. And even in the "new" downtown, as soon as you hit about 10-11 p.m., the respectable people vanish in a hurry and the streets are overtaken by thugs, wannabee teen gangstas, and homeless people. And the huge police presence that shows up to stand post on Friday and Saturday nights at City Place makes me wonder... Suddenly, it doesn't seem so up-and-coming anymore.

What's the real story with Silver Spring? Someone told me that it was gentrifying -- another used the term "Bethesdafying" -- but I had to laugh. I don't see a lot to indicate that Silver Spring is becoming like Bethesda (either on the streets or in the schools). Is it really trending up? If so, seems it's going to take a really loooong time.

[kdavani]

I don't think anyone really knows what will happen. I'm going to watch my response closely because I dont want people yelling back at me lol I think they are doing a lot to SS to turn it around. And in the downtown area it looks much better. The majestic theater is always packed, there are good places to eat, etc. A "friend of a friend" recently bought a townhouse in SS and I couldnt believe it. IMO I don't think it is a wise investment. If you're going to spend 300k+ why spend it in an area where you don't know exactly where it is headed. You're def right about the surrounding areas not being great. Once it is late, if you're not in the immediate downtown area it can be a little scary. I don't think SS will ever become the new bethesda, or even close. But it is nice they are at least trying to turn the area around.

[GeorgeSpelvin]

There is a huge construction project going on near the Metro station; I understand that it's going to be a new transit center and will include retail shopping and a hotel. I read someplace that Silver Spring Metro is currently used by 27,000 people a day and that's projected to hit nearly 100,000 a day by 2025. Not sure how they project out that far but if it's true, I wonder what all of that means for the area?

They are also tearing down the "North Parcel" of the old Falkland Chase complex and going to build new luxury high-rise housing, and there's apparently also some additional mix-used projects nearby.

Some people envision the area eventually becoming something like Rosslyn. But at present, sure seems tough to predict where an area is going to be a decade from now.

[kdavani]

That metro construction is interesting. I havent heard of that huge project but I have heard of new shops and sales carts wanted in the stations (similar to NYC subway). I heard they will be experimenting with this in some popular stations but they will still keep the "no eating, no drinking" rule which i think will be hard to enforce if people are buying the stuff in the station.

I do think the metro is used more on the "right side" of the red line compared to the left (besides shady grove because everyone from all suburbs drives there). I'm not sure why this is but the only thing I can think of is more people without a car near the SS area or more people in SS not willing to pay for all the gas it takes to drive into the city. I know people who live off the left side of the red line and they are so stubborn about always driving they'd rather drive 2 hrs than take the metro. IMO i guess no matter where i lived, its not worth taking the metro unless you can walk to it or your work pays for you. because the parking for metro is insane!! $4.75+ your round trip price. its like $10 a day. with gas prices so low now, thats at least 1/3-1/2 of my payment for one fillup!!

If SS does upgrade after all this new construction, it may not be a bad place to snatch an apt attached to the metro station. those are really nice and def impossible for me to afford off rockville or other places that have them. but i still will never invest in a house over there... good thing i still have a couple yrs before i need to think about that!

[TrippingJay]

Originally Posted by GeorgeSpelvin

What's the real story with Silver Spring? Someone told me that it was gentrifying -- another used the term "Bethesdafying" -- but I had to laugh. I don't see a lot to indicate that Silver Spring is becoming like Bethesda (either on the streets or in the schools). Is it really trending up? If so, seems it's going to take a really loooong time.

It sounds like you want Bethesda at a Silver Spring price.

Bethesda has always been a desirable place to live; it has high end shopping and upscale restaurants, borders exclusive parts of NW DC and offers some of the best public schools in the region while being one of the most expensive places to live in the area and perhaps the Nation. It's basically a yuppie's wet dream.

Silver Spring on the other hand is more more affordable than Bethesda and has drastically revitalized itself into a urban and diverse area. If anything, Silver Spring is perhaps one of the most integrated places in the area. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people of different ethnicities dining together or walking about whenever I've been in SS. However; Silver Spring still has a ways to go and unfortunately has some stigma from its days back in the 90's. Honestly, if you want SS to be more like Bethesda, you would have to start by raising the prices to weed out the people you classify as undesirable.

Personally, having rented in Bethesda, my partner and I are looking into buying a house and Silver Spring is actually at the top of our list. Surprisingly, we've found houses to be reasonably priced and many of the areas we've looked into i.e. Woodmore, Indian Spring, Four Corners all have diverse residents and seem to offer much more of sense of community.

[GeorgeSpelvin]

Originally Posted by TrippingJay

It sounds like you want Bethesda at a Silver Spring price.

That doesn't sound like too bad of an idea!

Actually, can we keep the diversity but reduce the crime and get the schools on par with those in Bethesda? That would actually be the ideal but if you have the answer to how to accomplish that, I suspect you can make a lot of money as a consultant all over this country.

[kdavani]

Originally Posted by GeorgeSpelvin

That doesn't sound like too bad of an idea!

Actually, can we keep the diversity but reduce the crime and get the schools on par with those in Bethesda? That would actually be the ideal but if you have the answer to how to accomplish that, I suspect you can make a lot of money as a consultant all over this country.

Def agree. I think MD has lots of diversity anywhere around the DC area. I love the diversity. If SS had less crime and better schools id def move to that area. The thing that keeps me wanting to live west of 270 MoCo area are the schools. Even though i dont have kids now haha but I know i will need to save lots of $$ to even consider that area later.

[Bigbluelandrover]

Silver Spring covers a LARGE area. Maybe your focus is only on the downtown area but there are good schools in the far north sectors towards Cloverly. My kids are in schools that are not the top of the heap in ratings but they still exceed many US high/middle schools in other states. Parents need to look at the programs offered at the schools and decide from there if that school is good. Also look at the violence rate. Kids can and will excel with high parental involvement and expectations.

Bethesda has great schools but there are kids selling drugs in those schools just like they do in the so-called bad schools. Nowadays you are not going to escape some of these problems. One thing I will spill is that the houses on the east side of SS have bigger lots, and are less expensive than the eact same house west of Conn, Ave. If city planners can do something to attract more "white collar" yuppies and professional first time buyers to the area I do think that area can get better.

The downtown area will be a mix for a while until ALL the lower income housing is cleared out and there is no telling when that is going to be & there is a complex off East West Hwy that is a trouble hot spot. Mont county tends to cater to some folks that "may" have citizenship issues. However, I am ever so happy that SS is not as expensive as Bethesda. I can't see paying $500k+ for a dumpy ranch house that is 1200 sq ft w/no garage and no yard.

[kdavani]

Originally Posted by Bigbluelandrover

However, I am ever so happy that SS is not as expensive as Bethesda. I can't see paying $500k+ for a dumpy ranch house that is 1200 sq ft w/no garage and no yard.

I agree, i would stay in rockville/north potomac before i ever moved to bethesda. you really can only get a tiny old house for 500k it is ridiculous!! Some places its just not worth it, unless you're a millionaire