Silver Spring Maryland Real Estate

Old Downtown Silver Spring has had an exciting and ongoing renewal, a multi-million dollar facelift that is providing a pedestrian friendly downtown area with shops and restaurants. The American Film Institute theatre, now housed in the historic Silver Spring theatre, the theatre is an internationally recognized, state-of-the-art film and video exhibition center.  The Discovery Channel's breathtaking headquarters  is located in downtown Silver Spring.  Silver Spring is about to get a new "State of the Art" Transit Center named after Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes, who was instrumental  in approprating funds for this mammoth project.

The "Close-in" older neighborhoods of Silver Spring with tree lined streets offer homes built in the late 1800's to the 1940's, providing the charm coveted by so many buyers.  These older neighborhoods such as Woodside Park, Seven Oaks, Indian Spring and North Woodsdie are for the most part within easy walking distance of thw Silver Spring metro stop or the Forest Glen stop.  There is also some infill and a limited amount of new constrution occuring in Close-in Silver Spring, such as The Courts of Woodside and the Forest Glen Park Area.  Also, within the older downtown area are newly constructed chic urban condos, and Townhomes with more still planned and currently under construction.

Further out Colesville Road to Burtonsville and from Georgia Ave to Wheaton there are subdivisions built in the mid 1940's ,1950's and 1960's where architectural styles include ramblers, split levels, colonials and contemporary mid century modern homes.  There are newer townhome and condominium developments sprinkled throughout the Greater Silver Spring Area. We have something for everyone in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Silver Spring's parks have more than just grass and trees.  Many include playgrounds, ball fields, basketball courts,  tennis courts, picnic areas, trails, ponds, recreation centers or indoor swim centers. Our parks and streams are beautiful and there are two very active groups of people that want to keep them that way, The Friends of Sligo Creek and Neighbors of the Northwest Branch are private groups dedicated to keeping our two largest tributaries clean and healthy.

                                             Takoma Park, Maryland - A Victorian Suburb

Takoma Park, or "Granola Park" as some locals call it now, was the first planned suburban community of Washington, DC.  Founded in 1883, by Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, Takoma Park was developed along a branch of the B & O railroad. It was originally conceived as a "summer resort" area, as a healthful clean-water alternative to Washington, DC's malarial swamps. With a population of 18,000 it rests along the upper northeast boundary of D.C. and strattles Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland. 

B.F. Gilbert named his community TAKOMA an Indian word meaning "High Up - Near Heaven".  Takoma Park has it's own city government, police department, library and is served by Montgomery County Schools 

Religion and politics has shaped the Takoma Park community. From the early 1900's to 1990, Takoma Park was the world headquarters of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Two of the church's institutions remain today, The Washington Adventist Hospital, and Columbia Union College. The coming of metro service to Takoma Park has made it a perfect "bedroom community" for young professionals.  It is a 15 minute commute to the middle of Downtown DC by METRO from the Takoma Red Line Station.
                               
Takoma Park is a friendly "laid back", independent small town with liberal politics. Takoma Park is sometimes called the "Berkley of the East" The residents are politically active and have put in place a number of progressive measures such as the Declaration of a Nuclear-Free Zone and legal recognition of non-marital partnerships.

In the historic district you will find grand old Victorians, Bungalows, American Four Squares and other old timey styles, along tree-lined streets.  

Old Town Takoma offers an eclectic, funky mix of small, locally owned specialty shops and small restaurants, cafes and a very popular FOOD COOP.  From the end of April to mid December there is a farmers market every Sunday in the center of town. To celebrate July 4th, the town puts on its own parade and its own fireworks display.

You can find many great Silver Spring real estate agents and loan officers on ActiveRain.com Debbie Cook is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.