If Silver Spring wasn't right next to DC... (Bethesda, Frederick: contractor, live)

[Tiger Beer]

If Silver Spring wasn't right next to DC, do you think it would have a higher recognition as a destination city in its own right?

I guess what I'm getting at, is when I view photos of Silver Spring, it seems like a busy place with more than enough to keep oneself busy.

At the same time, I'll occassionally view photos of other random cities across the U.S. You'll look at their downtown photos, and they'll look largely empty or deserted.

I'm just thinking, that IF Silver Spring was in say, Nebraska or Iowa or Kansas or somewhere far removed, and it being what it is now, would it be a destination city in its way, for the people who lived a couple hundred miles from it?

Also, tying this in, in many ways, Silver Spring IS a suburb of DC, and in other ways, offers all the things that a city that would be far-removed from it's location as a surburban city, would offer.

Nontheless, would others agree with any of this, or largely disagree?

[diplomat74]

If you were to combine silver spring with bethesda then I think it would be a destination city in it's own right but for now it is a satellite city of dc that is growing

[bonnielisabeth]

No, it would look exactly like those cities if it was in Iowa or somewhere else in the US. So would Bethesda. I think the reason that it exists (and most of the cities nearby exist) is DC.

I think--take DC away, most of the businesses and people in surrounding cities would go away, because they are partially there for proximity to DC and people / money / services drawn by DC.

In my opinion DC and Alexandria are the only "destination" cities in the whole DC area. And, Alexandria only makes it because of it's historical importance.

But, I may have a different definition of "destination" city...i.e. I wouldn't fly out to Des Moines for a vacation, but I also wouldn't go to Silver Spring, Bethesda, Arlington, etc... either. But if I already lived in Iowa, yeah, I would go there to do stuff. Just like I never had any desire to visit downtown Silver Spring or Bethesda until I lived less than an hour away.

[MDAllstar]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

If Silver Spring wasn't right next to DC, do you think it would have a higher recognition as a destination city in its own right?

I guess what I'm getting at, is when I view photos of Silver Spring, it seems like a busy place with more than enough to keep oneself busy.

At the same time, I'll occassionally view photos of other random cities across the U.S. You'll look at their downtown photos, and they'll look largely empty or deserted.

I'm just thinking, that IF Silver Spring was in say, Nebraska or Iowa or Kansas or somewhere far removed, and it being what it is now, would it be a destination city in its way, for the people who lived a couple hundred miles from it?

Also, tying this in, in many ways, Silver Spring IS a suburb of DC, and in other ways, offers all the things that a city that would be far-removed from it's location as a surburban city, would offer.

Nontheless, would others agree with any of this, or largely disagree?

Silver Spring has come a very long way. I think it is getting to that point. I remember about 15 years ago when Silver Spring was empty and city place was the only thing there. It looks amazing now.

[westsideboy]

No Washington DC, no Silver Spring. Silver Spring is a cool place and a "destination" for the other suburbs that are almost purely residential, but it wouldn't exist in a place like Nebraska or Iowa because the wealth and jobs start with the the federal government.

Remember, places like Gaithersburg, Rockville, Silver Spring and Frederick were just cowtowns with populations around 10 -15k until the monsterous growth of federal spending starting after WWII.

[BKmachine]

None of these edge cities would exist if DC didnt, let alone if they werent so close to the city.

[molukai]

Originally Posted by -.-

None of these edge cities would exist if DC didnt, let alone if they werent so close to the city.

I think this thread's original question has a pretty obvious answer.

[SolarDub]

If there's an event in SS, then it's a neat place to go for dinner and then the event.
Otherwise, it's not really a place just to go to (in my opinion).

[concreterose]

Silver Spring isn't unique or captivating enough to be a "destination" city, in my humble opinion. The restaurant scene isn't that great, the shopping is mediocre, and the cultural offerings aren't especially world-class (though of course the AFI is a gem). What is appealing about DTSS is that it's affordable, easily accessible, and it's a really...down-to-earth area.

[wisedisguise]

If you could cut the original 10 square mile parcel of land that was once DC, including what is now now Arlington/Alexandria, out of the local map there would be no reason for most of the suburbs to remain. The federal government is the only industry keeping the Metro area alive. How many people do you know who work directly for the government or a sub-contractor that performs services for it?
This entire region used to be an agricultural area. Silver Spring would look like any other 3 light town in the midwest if DC wasn't next door.
A thought I had...can you tell the difference where DC stops and SS starts? Georgia Ave, 410 and Eastern Ave all converge within a mile of each other. 29 runs right through it all. It's hard to tell unless you truly know or read the signs.