Marcie Stickle of the Silver Spring Historical Society (SSHS), who nominated the site, says that “the evolutionary design, termed ‘geometric modernist aesthetic,’ is monumental and substantial, and transitional toward the grid system of later international-style office buildings. The design is austere and also exhibits applied vertical stone pilasters. Its façade contains symmetrical features and elements within its overall modernist asymmetry.”
Still, owner Albert Foer has proposed razing the five-story building (in which Sun Trust now operates) and erecting a 14-story mixed-use development project in the central business/financial district of Silver Spring. The Historic Preservation Commission agreed that the building should be given Master Plan for Historic Preservation status, but the planning board rejected this designation and forwarded the nomination to the county council for a final decision.
According to Stickle, “This district council abdicated their responsibility as final arbiters, refusing to schedule a public hearing to hear the merits of the case with three dissensions. A lawsuit is pending to have the planning board revisit this nomination in the role of final decision-makers.”
However, states Foer, “The planning commission and the Montgomery County Council both determined that the building is not worthy of designation, and the circuit court affirmed this determination.”
For more information, contact silverspringhistory.homestead.com or email sshistory@yahoo.com.
Latest Comments
preservation
Posted by sumitgupta008 July 02, 2011 15:26:36
Perpetual Preservation
Posted by George French & Marcie Stickle March 15, 2011 20:58:33
Needs to be saved
Posted by Kirk Huffaker March 09, 2011 23:06:05