About Silver Spring's East Silver Spring

I haven’t been in a laundromat in a long, long, long time, maybe 12 to 15 years ago.

The last time I needed to use a laundromat I went to the one near the corner of University Blvd & Piney Branch Road and also the one in the 16th Street Strip Mall that was on the level under the McDonalds there. They were both crowded places and kinda dingy and dark. There were 2 different sizes of washers and dryers that took coins. I couldn’t wait to get my laundry done and get out.

I recently went into the new Tropicana Laundromat on Fenton Street to wash some real bulky items (rugs, big comforters and pillows), that my regular washer and dryer can’t handle. I was amazed at how far Laundromats have come since I’d been in one!

This place is CLEAN, Bright, Airy, Pleasant and Spacious. You could eat off the floors. They had 2 people outside hosing down and cleaning off the parking lot steps and even the asphalt (that people park their cars on) when I was there. It was immaculate inside and out.

There must be 6 -7 different sizes of washers and dryers, from tiny ones for delicates to the Heavy Duty Super Jumbo size that I used, and there are lots of them! There are huge, long, nice clean folding tables and plenty of those big rolling steel laundry baskets.

There are 3 Big Screen TVS mounted on the back wall and areas to sit and read or watch a big screen while you are waiting for your laundry to be done.

And . . . No more coins to fumble with – you can load money (via credit card)into a card to use in the machines.

I have to admit, when I first saw the sign go up last year I thought it was going to be some kind of an all night Restaurant/Bar. I had visions of Mai Tais, Margaritas, pina-coladas, other tropical drinks and food dancing in my head. I was disappointed at first when I figured out it was a Laundromat.

Tropicana Laundromat
8010 Fenton St
Silver Spring, MD 20910

This Quiet Charming Pocket of Single Family Homes in Downtown Silver Spring has 131 Homes within it's boundaries.

Recent Home Sales in McNeill's Addition to Silver Spring Park Sales settled (closed) from January 1, 2010 to YTD 2012 *All Information from the MRIS - Metropolitan Regional Information Systems


314 Dale Drive - 4 Bedrooms 1 Bath

List Price - $389,000
Sold Price - $380,000
Seller Credit - $10,000
Days on Market - 22

Sweet Cape Cod. Long term owner. Dated but well cared for. Freshly painted interior & exterior. Newly refinished hardwood floors on two levels. No kitchen appliances. Perfect for a Streamline 203K FHA Loan to improve kitchen & bath. Walk to Downtown Silver Spring, Ride On to metro & Whole Foods. House sold in as-is condition.

613 Mc Neill Road - 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths

List Price - $449,000
Sold Price - $449,000
Seller Credit - $5,000
Days on Market - 3

Absolutely charming 1936 Cape Cod on a delightful block. Walk to park or stroll to dwntwn Silver Spring. Enchanting front porch, rich hardwd flrs, 2 BRs +1BA on the main, LR w/fireplace, DR w/huge picture window & view of rear yard. Kitch w/side entry, upper level mstr ste w/tons of closets & large BA. Fully fin lower lev. Wonderful natural light in every room. Big & flat backyard! Move-in Ready






8306 Queen Annes Drive - 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths

List Price - $564,900
Sold Price - $543,500
Days on Market - 10

Walk to Metro & Town Center from this meticulously maintained three bedroom Colonial. Best of both worlds in this quiet, serene setting yet blocks to all conveniences: Metro, restaurants, AFI, Civic building with Ice Rink, Veterans Plaza & The Fillmore! Fabulous Rec/Family Room with full bath perfect for au-pair! Fabulous yard perfect for addition!




722 Dartmouth Avenue - 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths

List Price - $565,000
Sold Price - $555,000
Seller Credit to Buyers - $1,500
Days on Market - 6

Truly superbly renovated w/every last detail thought through. Both baths & kit gutted & renovated. Expansive 3 level deck can support 2nd story addition for future renovation. Wonderful flow on main level. Front to back living room (with fireplace) with screened porch off side. LL bedroom has full egress windows.





605 McNeill Road - 3 Bedrooms 3 Baths

List Price - $585,000
Sold Price - $585,000
Days on Market -

FABULOUS CAPE COD on quiet, one way street a stone's throw from downtown SS, METRO, parks & playgrounds. 3 BR, 3 redone BA. Redone kit with Corian. Big surprise is VERY BIG, walk-out finished lower level w/ French doors to patio & large fenced yard. Possible parking off alley. Welcoming front porch, Hardwood floors, built-in bookcases & Fireplace






8212 Queen Annes Drive - 3 Bedrooms 4 Baths

List Price - $670,000
Sold Price - $650,000
Seller Credit - $2,500
Days on Market - 12

Completely renovated cottage/cape with 3 beautifully finished levels in this walk-to everything DT SS locale. Main has open floor plan w/liv rm open to den, dining room, sitting nook w/entry to deck, kitchen, & master suite addition. Lower level has walk out family room & large office suitable as guest space. Superb award-winning landscaping adds the finishing touches.




606 Deerfield Avenue - 5 Bedrooms 4 Baths

List Price - $675,000
Sold Price - $663,000
Days on Market - 10

Fabulous home! Incredibly spacious and fully updated 4BR 3FB cape featuring 10'x20' light-filled eat-in kitchen w/professional appliances, gorgeous fully fin LL FR/apt (reg living unit, not a rental), sunroom. Custom detailing throughout! Lovely covered patio, fenced yard. OSP. HOW. Walking distance to downtown SS & Metro! 2 half blocks to Nolte Park and near Sligo Creek Park!





609 Bonifant Street - 3 Bedrooms 3 Baths

List Price - $678,000
Sold Price - $654,000
Seller Credit - $1500
Days on Market - 9

Country estate feel w/unbeatable in town location! Thoughtfully expanded & renovated home just blocks to 2 parks, Whole Foods, Metro & all of DT SS. Open thru hall to large liv room, sun, porch expanded DR & Kit. Kitchen w/stainless/granite has great bkfst nook & walks out to rear porch, urban oasis w/patio/koi pond & access to driveway.






608 Deerfield Avenue - 5 Bedrooms 4 Baths

List Price - $995,000
Sold Price - $965,000
Days on Market - 38

Rare opportunity to own a custom, quality newer home by builder known for solid construction, custom design & beautiful attention to detail. Plenty of space without sacrificing intimacy or character. Wood floors both main and upper, custom built-ins. Just blocks to all in DT SS





For more information about Homes for Sale in Mcneills Addition and adjacent subdivisions such as Sligo Park Hills, South Woodside, Seven Oaks, Silver Spring Park, Blair-Takoma and more:

Call or email Debbie Cook (301) 587-3528 www.SilverSpringTeam.com

This post was inspired by a another local blogger www.ThayerAvenue.com who posted about a ginormous McMansion going up in East Silver Spring on Thayer Avenue.

Most of East Silver Spring still has "normal sized" older houses. The few McMansions or new infill construction that we do have REALLY stand out.

One example on Easley street is the "McMansion with no windows" It started out as a small bungalow home built in 1928 between 2 other similar houses. The home had a larger and deeper than average lot size of 12,180 sq ft.

It was torn down sometime ago and remained a big watery mud hole with trash and debris in it for a few years. I once walked by the lot and noticed they were still getting junk and other mail delivered to 701 Easley, it was strewn all over the front of the mud hole. While it was still just a hole, it caused a lot of concern and complaints from the adjoining neighbors and the neighborhood in general.

I though they'd never build anything there. Then all of a sudden a huge foundation went up this past year. The picture does not do it justice - it is ENORMOUS. Can't wait to see what it will look like when it's finished. It will certainly stand out amongst the small old bungalows on that street.

Above Post from December 2007


Fast Forward 2 years from this original post about the house and this house still looked the same - except for the CONDEMENDED notice on the front door from Montgomery County. The notice was posted in June or July of this year, most likely because of the many complaints from the neighbors.

Photos from August 2009 . . . . .

Photo of the house today

WOW - The house looks a lot better this week - But still has the same condemned sign on the front door from this past summer.

Finally after almost 5 years it is starting to look like a decent house . . . .

The Building on the corner of Dale Drive and Schulyer Road is getting a face-lift, expansion, a second story and more square footage. When the building is finished with renovations it will become the new home of the Washington Revels.


The Washington Revels is a non profit cultural institution, the current headquarters are on Eastern Avenue in Silver Spring.

"An established cultural institution in the greater Washington area for over 25 years, Washington Revels is dedicated to reviving and celebrating cultural traditions -- music, dance, storytelling, drama and ritual -- that have bound communities together over the ages and across the globe."


Annual events include the professionally staged and directed Christmas Revels at Lisner Auditorium (drawing over 10,000 attendees in mid-December), Spring Celebrations, May Revels, Summer Solstice Festival Day, Harvest Barn Dance, and various Community Sings. Venues for these and many other productions range from outdoor parks to a 1500-seat theater







Before

This small 3,059 Sq Ft commercial building is in a mainly residential Neighbohood of East Silver Spring is in the same block as Silver Spring Intermediate - Sligo Creek Elementary School and Errters Market. The building has had several incarnations.

If you have lived in Silver Spring for a long time you will probably remember it as the Fairway Pharmacy for many many years. It's last incarnation was a consignment shop and Vincent Agnes Florist also had a storefront there for a long time.