Is Downtown Silver Spring living worth the high rental price?

[Chloe_inMD]

Originally Posted by badchad

Nope. Not worth it.

Do you wish to elaborate?

[King_of_DC]

Originally Posted by Chloe_inMD

Hi All,

I am considering relocating to Downtown Silver Spring. What can I say, I love the overall vibe, and whenever I'm down there I feel like I'm in shopping heaven.

I'm originally from NY, but I've lived in the Dc Metro area for a few years now (4 to be exact) and I definitely plan on staying, since I love my job/career. But I am wondering if it's worthwhile to pay $1900 to reside in the downtown Silver Spring area?

Does anyone reside in Downtown Silver Spring? If so, what do you like most about living in the area?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

I was close to there.... in wheaton. Is it worth it? Yes, if that is what you want. No one else can tell you if it is worth it or not... we are not you. It was worth it for me to pay over 2k for a while (rent increased).... why, I loved being on top of the metro. Worth it... others thought I was crazy.

Be careful with the rents though... that $1900 can quickly go up $200 to $400 next year, out of the blue. My first time ever experiencing that... thought it was a myth.

Anyway, move where you want and feel comfortable.

I spent a lot of time in SS... not tons though... place got small quickly.

[lapetiteruse]

I just moved to SS from LA last week and am totally loving it!!!!! I'm paying just under $1700 for 856 sf 1 BR and that includes parking and pet rent. Woo Hoo!!!! I love being across the street from metro and an easy walk to the downtown area.

Now all I need is to make local friends!!!

Lynn

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by King_of_DC

I spent a lot of time in SS... not tons though... place got small quickly.

I agree. Living in a place like that can get boring and small after you've hit all the spots and figured out what you like and don't like to do. I should say it gets familiar. Which can be good or bad I guess.

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by lapetiteruse

I just moved to SS from LA last week and am totally loving it!!!!! I'm paying just under $1700 for 856 sf 1 BR and that includes parking and pet rent. Woo Hoo!!!! I love being across the street from metro and an easy walk to the downtown area.

Now all I need is to make local friends!!!

Lynn

Hey Lynn, welcome to the neighborhood! I'd recommend following @SilverSpringInc on Twitter (and he has a website at silverspringincorporated.com) as he's a cool local blogger who posts about what's going on in the neighborhood, including large events, but also organizes smaller community get-togethers like the "tweet-up" that was recently held at Denizens Brewery. I think the plan is to have those get-togethers on a regular basis so that people who love and live in the area, but might only vaguely know each other from, e.g. following each other on Twitter, can hang out and get to know each other for real. I think it's a great idea for people like you who are new to the area and looking to meet neighbors in a relaxed environment. Welcome!

[coldbliss]

I have lived in downtown Silver Spring for 14 years and I sadly note that Silver Spring is becoming less worthy of the higher rental prices.

The apartment management companies are very aggressive about attracting the 20-something, single professional crowd. As a result, the DTSS area is full of single professionals living in the newer luxury apartment buildings. You would think the nightlife would be buzzing like crazy with the ideal age and income demographic living on the same block.

Talk to the 20-somethings living in Silver Spring and you know what they will tell you: "I am outta here after the lease expires". I have a roommate in my place of residence because of the ridiculous rent where I live. I have struggled for YEARS to find younger professionals (or graduate students) to live in my building. Why? Because they would rather pay the same rent--or even higher rent--to live "where the action is".

Where's the action for younger single professionals?

U Street, DC
Logan Circle, DC
11th Street, DC
H Street, NE, DC
NoMA, DC
Columbia Heights, DC
Adams Morgan, DC
Mount Pleasant, DC
The Clarendon to Ballston corridor in Arlington, VA

Downtown Silver Spring can't compete for entertainment, nightlife, quality of restaurants, higher-end retail shops.

Go visit the Silver Spring Metro platform on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. You see huge crowds of DTSS residents in their 20s and 30s waiting for the Shady Grove red line train to DC. Then walk up & down Georgia Ave. You will notice the stark contrast right away. Except for the lines to get into the Society Restaurant and people smoking their cools outside of Quarry House, the whole Georgia Ave. strip from Colesville Road down to Sligo Ave. it mostly deserted.

So my apartment rent went up 120 percent in a span of 14 years because real estate developers and county politicians wanted to attract young, single professionals. The new Discovery corporation building, the Ellsworth street redevelopment project, AFI Silver theater and the Fillmore music hall were also big factors in the rent increase for all residents. Except...few DTSS locals even bother to watch films at the AFI theater, drink beer at McGinty's or catch a concert at The Fillmore. They are too busy having fun in DC.

The people shopping and eating in the "new" downtown Silver Spring area are predominately lower-income, black and Hispanic families. The drive from PG County, Wheaton or DC in order to escape their dreary neighborhoods. Groups of black teenagers from rough neighborhoods in DC take the bus to DTSS because there are diversions like the Majestic 20 cinema and safe places to hang out. This is NOT what the real estate developers and local politicians had in mind for the new DTSS. They had envisioned white & Asian yuppies with disposable income dining and shopping there. There is a reason why cheaper retailers like H&M and DSW have found a home in Silver Spring while higher-end niche shops have failed all over the place. The wrecking ball would have destroyed the City Place shopping mall a long time ago if hadn't been for the large crowds of low-income, minority shoppers giving their scarce dollars to discount shops.

Downtown Silver Spring would be worth EVERY PENNY in rent if the locals actually took advantage of the location.

[DistrictSonic]

I love downtown Silver Spring, I actually live pretty close to it in DC. But I think you can find something better than $1900 if that is for a one bedroom. But it is a great area to live in. It is easily one of the most diverse suburbs, and has plenty of amenities (many of which have been mentioned). It is also a walkable and transit friendly place. I would recommend living there, but if you are looking at a 1 BR see if you cannot track down a cheaper place. There are plenty of nice apartments in that area.

I would not discourage you from living there, but I think you can get a better deal in DT SS for a nice place.

[bufflove]

Coldbliss, you're comparing apples and oranges. Of course DTSS isn't U St., Logan Circle, etc. You are going to pay a whole lot more $$ and have far more quality of life issues in those neighborhoods. Most who live in DTSS and visit U St., etc. for nightlife do so on purpose; visiting those DC neighborhoods from time to time is fun, but living in/near those nightlife districts 24/7 is not something many people find appealing (or affordable, for that matter).