Planners to Hold Virtual Listening Sessions on Downtown, Adjacent Communities Plan

The county’s Planning Department will hold the first of three virtual “listening sessions” on what’s been rechristened the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan on Tuesday, July 21 from noon to 1:15 p.m. The discussion is part of the launch of the sector plan process for the Central Business District and surrounding area.

County to Open Former Library as Cooling Center During Heat Alert

The county will open the former Silver Spring library location today (July 20) as a cooling center in response to a declared heat emergency alert. The building at 8901 Colesville Rd. will open at 11 a.m. Monday and close at 7 p.m. In addition, the Silver Spring Civic Building has been designated a cooling center today as well, also from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Kefa to Leave Library Location, Bump ’n Grind to Take Over

Kefa Café will leave its location in the Silver Spring Library and open a café in the new Wheaton Library, while Bump ’n Grind will take over the Silver Spring spot. “We have been honored for the past five years to operate the coffee shop located on the grounds of the Silver Spring Library,” said Kefa’s co-owner Lene Tsegay in a statement, “and we are proud to have established a precedent for creating a welcoming and supportive community space for library customers.”

Takoma Park Seeks Citizen Preferences for Library Exterior Design

The City of Takoma Park is asking citizens to take a survey to indicate their preference for the exterior design of a renovated and reconstructed library, officials announced. The survey provides a review of three designs submitted to the City Council in February by RRMM Lukmire Architects. The presentation included a project cost estimate of more than $8 million for each design.

Some Restrictions on Parks, Libraries Lifted This Week

The county’s parks and library branches this week will begin lifting some restrictions imposed as part of the COVID-19 lockdown and offering certain services and amenities. Beginning today (June 29), Montgomery Parks will be reopening playgrounds to patrons under certain guidelines, and library book drops will open for returns (with some exceptions).

County Board Approves Expanded Area for Downtown Planning Study

The Montgomery County Planning Board yesterday unanimously approved a Scope of Work for the Silver Spring Downtown Plan that adds portions of adjacent neighborhoods to the study area. The decision at the virtual meeting adopted staff boundary Option D, an expansion within a half-mile/ten-minute pedestrian “walkshed” from the future Silver Spring Library Purple Line Station.