Unite to Save NOAA rally

 The Unite to Save NOAA rally was today between 10 and 11 am at the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD.  There were several speakers and a large group of people there showing their support.

Along the road half a dozen people were holding signs telling people to "Honk for NOAA!". Many drivers did honk as they drove past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Street bridge replacement

I went to see how the Spring Street bridge replacement is going.  This bridge is being replaced so that the Purple Line light rail can go under Spring St.

Where the bridge was (Feb 2025)

All that is left of the old bridge is a few concrete columns sticking up into the air.  On the right, you can see new columns being built that wil support the future bridge. This is on the east side of the bridge, the railroad tracks are closest to the camera and the metro tracks are on the other side.

The bridge in August 2024

This is how things looked last August.  Frankly, it doesn't look too different.  Those same 3 columns are poking up between the metro tracks and the train tracks.  On the far side you can see there is a full row of supports that have since been removed.  This photo was taken from the west side, so here the metro tracks are closest to the camera and the railroad tracks are on the other side.

The approach to the bridge (February 2025)

This is the eastern approach to the Spring Street bridge. There is construction material staged along the left side and a larch crane is at the top.

 

The approach to the bridge (August 2024)

Here is the same section of Spring Street last August. Notice the difference?  The crane visible in the distance is on the far side of the bridge and there is nothing staged in the road.

A wider shot

Here's another shot of the bridge construction.  A metro train happened to come along right as I was taking the photo.

White Oak Apartments construction update

White Oak Apartments have been under construction for a year now and the progress since I last posted about them in November is considerable.
 

This is the entrance to the construction site on Broadbirch Drive.  Two rows of two-over-two units are visible, plus a 5 story apartment building.

The view of the units facing Broadbirch Drive.  The front units have a staircase leading up to each one.

 This will be a residential development with 359 units in a 5 story building and two buildings with two-over-two development that contain 28 units. There will also be some public open space on the left side of the lot. You can view the planning board submission for White Oak Apartments here.

This is the back of the development, taken from Whitehorn Court looking across the Darcars parking lot.

 This is on the site of the old Gannett USA Today National Customer Service Center located at 2240 Broadbirch Drive in Calverton, MD. This area is one of those ambiguous edge cases that isn't clearly in one location or another.  I (and Google) call it Calverton, the developer is clearly considering it White Oak, and it is, like most of Montgomery County, in the greater Silver Spring area. I posted about the demolition of that building in February of last year.

This is the 5 story apartment building, you can see the front part of it (further away in this photos) has the Tyvek wrap, but towards the back (closer to the camera) they are still putting up the plywood exterior walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Java Nation is open in Silver Spring!

 

 Java Nation has opened at 1010 Wayne Ave in Silver Spring and it is a bit different than I was expecting.  I'm used to the White Flint / North Bethesda location which has a full menu and alcohol but you order at the counter.  The Silver Spring location is a full restaurant where you sit down and they take your order at the table.

 It is really nice with a good bit of outdoor seating.  I went there on Wednesday and tried a few of their appetizers, the Spinach & Artichoke dip (good, but needs more baguette pieces), Vegetable Empanadas, and a Margherita flatbread.  All very tasty.  They also have salads and burgers and entrees.  Another neat thing they have is a Margarita flight with four different flavors of margaritas. I really liked the spicy watermelon one.  None of the margaritas were sweet, so if you like sweet ones this is not the place.

 They also have lots of bakery items and a brunch menu.  Of course, they also sell coffee.

Please Do Not Lean On The Window

 

I'm not one to randomly lean on windows, but this sign really makes me want to lean on this one. "PLEASE DO NOT LEAN ON THE WINDOW", "THANK YOU"

Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD

White Oak Apartments construction

I last mentioned the White Oak Apartments back in February. At that time they were in the process of demolishing the building.  Here it is November and they have made rapid progress.

 

 The building closest to the road is at it's full height and the roof is being put on. The buildings behind it have a ways to go.

This is on the site of the old Gannett USA Today National Customer Service Center located at 2240 Broadbirch Drive in Calverton, MD, though it sounds like the developers are optimistically considering it part of White Oak.

This will be a residential development with 359 units in a 5 story building and two buildings with two-over-two development that contain 28 units. There will also be some public open space on the left side of the lot. You can view the planning board presentation for White Oak Apartments here.

This is either a maximum security prison, or it is the parking garage of the 5 story building. If it is the latter, I would expect them to build the apartments around this core. I have seen that done in other places.

White Oak Town Center construction update

 

White Oak Town Center is a new strip mall / shopping center going in on the corner of Prosperity Drive and Industrial Parkway just off US 29 (Colombia Pike / Colesville Road) at the border of White Oak and Calverton in our fair state of Maryland.  I last posted about the White Oak Town Center development in March and a lot has changed since then.

If you are driving north on Columbia Pike, this is your first view. It is the corner of Industrial Parkway and Prosperity Drive (which is the access road that runs parallel to US-29). The tower in the center will be the shopping center sign and will have a clock at the top and the base will hide dumpsters for the development.

 

This space is for a grocery store. I don't know if one has signed up yet.  Originally it was going to be Trader Joes, then Amazon Fresh, but both have backed out.

 

On the side of the grocery store building is a large mural and a sign with the shopping center name.  The strip mall is arguably in Calverton, depending on where you put the fluid boarders of White Oak and Calverton, White Oak isn't a town, it is unincorporated, and in any case it is no where near the center of White Oak, so, every single word in the name of this strip mall could be considered wrong.

Here's a view of the parking lot and an access road. You can see that all the curbs are in, most of the decorative trees have been planted, and everything is ready to be paved.  This is close to being done.

 

 

Town Square Garage changing how you pay

 On or about July 31, 2023 (so the end of next month) they are switching payment systems in Garage 61. This is the Town Square Garage next to the Silver Spring Civic Building and Ellsworth Drive.  Instead of paying when you return to your car, you will have to pay in advance for how long you think you will be there.  I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, I really like paying when I leave so I pay exactly the right amount. I also really don't like the pay-by-plate system, it is too slow. I much prefer pay by parking spot number. On the other hand, I have long found it odd that there are so many different payment systems in different garages throughout Montgomery County

According to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT):

 On or about July 31, 2023, Garage 61 will be converted to a pay-by-plate facility. Click here to learn more about the payment system. Mobile payment will be available following the conversion through Parkmobile and Passport. To use mobile payment, enter the seven digit zone number (3610001), enter your license plate, choose your duration and begin the session. Card Access will be replaced by PCS Permits.

 

Old and new payment machines

 

The old payment machines are still active until the end of July, the one on the left accepts credit cards and cash (exact change only), the one on the right only accepts credit cards.  The two new machines are already installed but are covered up.

Also worth noting is that in both Silver Spring and Bethesda you will have to pay to park on Saturdays starting from July 8.  MCDOT says "On or about July 8, 2023, Saturday payment will be required.  Rates and hours requiring payment will be the same as the rest of the week."

Lakeforest Mall closes today

Blue snowflake entrance to Lakeforest Mall

 

I went to Lakeforest Mall at the end of February and posted pictures already. Today, however, is the last day it is open so I went back and took more photos. The mall will be redeveloped soon.

This is the Blue Snowflake entrance to Lakeforest mall. One of the four color coded seasonal entrances to the mall. This is at the food court, the old Sears was to the left.

A forlorn mall

Empty shops and kiosks at Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave, Gaithersburg, Maryland

 

There were more people than I expected at the mall. Most of them were walking around getting one last look at the mall, just like I was.  Lots of picture taking with cell phone cameras, some larger cameras, and even someone taking video on a tripod (a future documentary perhaps?)  Notable to me were the kids on roller skates making their way around the mall (but not very fast) and a young woman using a disposable film camera. That seemed very appropriate for the day.

Lakeforest Information booth

The old information booth in the central area of Lakeforest Mall. The glass elevator (still working) to the right.

Seating pit and sculpture

Outside each of the anchor stores was a sunken seating pit as well as a sculpture. This one is a shining, slightly twisted, non-descript shape rising up about a story and a half.

A zig-zag sculpture

A zig-zag of brushed chrome rising up out of the floor.

Marie's food spirts music

This brightly painted restaurant contrasts with the monotone colors of the rest of the mall.

Chi Chi's wall

The Chi Chi's at Lakeforest Mall closed about 20 years ago but nothing ever moved in to the space.  You can look in the windows and see part of the restaurant.

Goose don't care

The Canada Geese seem to like the mall closing and sit down in the middle of the road.

A streetlight in a precarious position

 

This streetlight is leaning heavily and looks like a strong gust of wind could knock it over.  I saw this on Plum Orchard Drive in Calverton.  Back in 2016 there was a spate of falling streetlights on Plum Orchard Dr between Broadbirch Dr and Cherry Hill Rd. Those got fixed as part of the Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center development. 

This little stub of Plum Orchard was ignored however, and the streetlights are really looking worse for the wear.  I really thing if someone leaned against this pole it would fall over.  It is also worth noting that the access panel looks to be held on with electrical tape.

When I took these pictures on Thursday, there was a van from an electrical company parked near one of the street  lights so it is possible these will be fixed soon. It is also possible that they will just fall to the ground before they get fixed.  I'll update as more information becomes available.