Artist Housing, Studio Space Proposed For Silver Springs
Minneapolis-based developer Artspace has proposed turning a former police station in Silver Springs into artist studios and plans to develop new housing for artists.
Artspace hopes to convert the 3rd District Police Station on Sligo Avenue into artist work space and develop 11 townhomes and a new, four-story apartment building with 68 units, Greater Greater Washington reports. The apartment building would wrap around the station in the form of an “F" while the townhomes would sit along Grove Street. Additional plans call for the lawn in front of the station to be partially paved and converted into a public plaza and for the rear courtyard to be private open space for the residents.
The building has remained vacant since a new police station opened in White Oak last year. The project has been given the thumbs-up from residents and will head to the Montgomery Planning Board for review on Dec. 17.
This would be Artspace’s second project in the area. Back in 2014, the company completed Phase 1 of the Brookland Artspace Lofts at the old Dance Space building at 3305 8th St NE. Phase 1 includes 41 units—39 of which are affordable—that include residential and studio space for artists and their families. Phase 2 will include an expanded theater and outdoor performance plaza. [GGW]
