Massive Silver Spring Mixed Use Development Gets Approval

• November 19th 2010

by Mark Wellborn

The Montgomery Planning Board unanimously approved a huge redevelopment of the Falkland Chase area in Silver Spring, TBD reported this morning.

The plans for the redevelopment call for four residential buildings with upwards of 1,250 apartments (approximately 330 will be affordable), 1,500 parking spaces, one acre of public park land and 75,000 square feet of retail (which may include a Harris Teeter).

While the approval was almost a foregone conclusion, there has been some debate surrounding the development of the land as preservationists have fought to keep the Falkland Chase, a 110-unit garden-style apartment complex dedicated by Eleanor Roosevelt, as is. But as TBD reports two of the three Falkland Chase parcels will remain untouched:

“…last year the Montgomery County Council voted to designate only two of the three parcels of Falkland land as historic. The third, north parcel is where Falkland Chase will go, and the rest will be largely untouched (except for some environmental upgrades).”

Planning for the project at 16th Street and East-West Highway was done by architect Shalom Baranes. The four buildings will be connected by pedestrian walkways and the complex will include a swimming pool, pond and fountain.

The most coveted aspect of this project may be its location, which is adjacent to the Silver Spring Transit Center (under construction) and the future Purple Line.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/massive_silver_spring_mixed_use_development_gets_approval/2691.