The Montgomery County Department of General Services held a public meeting in October 2017 to share presentations from the two finalists for the redevelopment of the former Silver Spring Library. On the park-like setting, the mid-century structure was designed in the late 1950s by a Silver Spring-based architect, Rhees Evans Burket.
Update: In February 2018, Montgomery County Government announced the selection of the proposal submitted for The Martha B. Gudelsky Child Development Center that will retain and reuse the existing structure and provide for additional space with a addition at the rear of the lot.
Last winter, Montgomery County Department of General Services led a walk-through with stakeholders including Montgomery Preservation and the Silver Spring Historical Society and potential developers. After the walk-through, Preservation Maryland assisted local groups in promoting the rehabilitation project RFP to the national preservation community and provided a letter of support in favor of reuse of the existing intact and unique structure. In February 2017, Preservation Maryland provided the Department of General Services a letter in support of the reuse of the existing structure.
PROPOSAL PRESENTATIONS
These proposals represent the two finalists for the project and the public is invited to provide their comments by December 6, 2017 to be emailed to: OPD.DGS@montgomerycountymd.gov.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Previously, in June 2015, Montgomery County moved operations of the Silver Spring Library to a newly constructed building. In short order, the vacated library was repurposed by the Friends of the Library Montgomery County, a non-profit that sells books, games, and other education material, and donates those proceeds to the Montgomery County Public Libraries system.
The Library was designed by Silver Spring-based architect, Rhees Evans Burket. His work, including the Stratford School in Arlington, VA, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.