Groundbreaking! The New Silver Spring Library!

I was thrilled to join County Executive Ike Leggett, Council President Nancy Floreen, Councilmembers Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Valerie Ervin, and a large group of friends, neighbors, library advocates, business owners, community leaders, and County staff for today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Silver Spring Library.

The new library will be located at the intersections of Wayne Avenue, Fenton Street, and Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring. The building is designed to create an open, inviting environment, with convenient public access. The library will be part of the mixed-use public facility and transit stop and will serve as a cultural landmark. Designed by The Lukmire Partnership, Inc., the project will be a Silver LEED building. In addition to the library that will occupy three floors, the building will also house a coffee bar and an art store, gallery, offices and classrooms for Pyramid Atlantic, a Silver Spring-based nonprofit dedicated to the creation and appreciation of handmade paper, printmaking, digital arts, and the art of the book. Plans call for the County’s Department of Health and Human Services to also have offices in the building. Large and small public meeting rooms would also occupy one floor. “Green” roofs will be located on the top level and at the entry pavilion roof that will be visible from the children’s floor.

The new library will include print and non-print collections for adults, children, and teens on separate floors, large and small meeting rooms, group study and/or tutor rooms, a computer lab and an early literacy area for parents and young children. The site will also serve as a light rail stop on the future Purple Line. A multi-story, mixed-income rental apartment building developed by a private contractor will be constructed on the Bonifant Street side of the site.

Site construction, including undergrounding and relocation of utility lines will begin immediately and take about 10 months.

For more information, visit the project website here.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Silver Spring Library!

County Executive Isiah Leggett

and the Montgomery County Council

cordially invite you to attend

the

Groundbreaking Ceremony

for the

New Silver Spring Library Building

Monday, August 30, 2010

10:00 a.m.

Project construction site

Downtown Silver Spring

900 Wayne Avenue

(corner of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street)

Parking available at the Wayne Avenue Garage

or

Take Metro (Red Line) to the Silver Spring Stop,

then walk 4-5 blocks

Please RSVP at

240-777-0033

To request ADA program accommodations

email drcinfo@montgomerycountymd.gov

or call the Silver Spring Library at 240-773-9420

 

Duchy at the Diner – Silver Spring

Today’s “Duchy at the Diner” event at the Tastee Diner in Silver Spring was a huge success. More than 30 people filled a meeting room joining Duchy for coffee, food and informal conversation at the Silver Spring landmark on Cameron Street.

In her remarks to the group, Councilmember Trachtenberg focused on the dire state of the County’s financial situation and its unavoidable impact on the County Executive’s proposed Operating Budget that will be transmitted to the County Council later this month. She reiterated her support for County Executive’s budget priorities—public safety, education, and protecting the most vulnerable.

The question and answer period was wide-ranging and included discussion about the Sligo Creek Golf Course, the Silver Spring Library, Long Branch development, the Family Justice Center, health care, domestic violence, and the County’s budget.

Duchy at the Diner – Silver Spring was the second in a touring series of “diner” events planned throughout Montgomery County.