County Selects Artspace to Develop Former Silver Spring Police Station

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett announced today that the county has selected Artspace to develop the former Third District Police Station and adjacent land located on Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring into an arts center anchored by affordable live/work housing.

The station relocated last May from 801 Sligo Ave. to its new location at 1002 Milestone Dr., in Silver Spring.

The former station on Sligo Avenue will be preserved and converted into working artist studios and creative spaces, providing opportunities for the area’s creative artists and organizations eager to find affordable workspace within the Capital Region, according to a news release from the county.

“Investing in affordable housing and artistic centers at this location will create a strong anchor and transitional connection between the business district and residential neighborhoods,” Leggett said. “With their extensive experience in developing artist-led community transformation projects, Artspace is the perfect choice to develop this property and I look forward to this project coming to fruition.”

This will be Artspace’s third arts and cultural hub within the Maryland/DC Metropolitan area. The first project was developed in Mount Rainier 10 years ago and, in 2012, Brookland Artspace Lofts opened in Washington, DC, according to the release.

The Silver Spring project is scheduled to begin with community outreach this spring, according to the county.

“Artspace is thrilled to be selected as the developer for this property,” said Heidi Kurtze, vice president of Properties for Artspace in a news release. “It’s important to Artspace to create a signature development for Silver Spring and Montgomery County that fits the vision of a thriving arts and cultural hub anchored by essential workforce housing.”

In addition to the redevelopment of the existing building into artist studios, the proposed development also includes construction of approximately 70 garden-style units and approximately 12 townhouses.

Additional information about Artspace is available at www.artspace.org.

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