Porti-Go?
By Silver Springer • Oct 11th, 2006 • Category: Uncategorized
According to a poster on the Silver Spring Scene, the site for the Portico condos has been fenced off, indicating that construction could begin soon. Originally a surface parking lot, the proposed project has caused much controversy between the Cameron Hills homeowners and the developer because the homeowners feel the height and density is inappropriate. The site was sold to Centex homes by the Patriot group; hopefully they can do a better job and stick to the original blue print.
I actually wish the Portico and Crescent could trade places (save for the retail) because the Portico is the better looking of the two and would get more exposure. I would also much rather see Centex pursue 1200 East West Highway before this project.
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The lot that’s fenced off now is directly behind Cubano’s on the side heading down toward the little corner park. It’s currently an old broken up parking lot (I used to use it when I went to Mi Rancho). That’s not a huge footprint for a condo. I assume it’s going to be tall and relatively narrow.
The down side of the site is smelling the adjacent restaurants. The up side is that you’d be really close to Metro, but away from the tracks enough that you won’t hear the darn freight trains at night.
My post has nothing to do with The Portico, but Mi Rancho.
I work right around the corner and have eaten at Mi Rancho for years (the food has always been very good and consistent).
My beef with Mi Rancho is that when they “upgraded” their patio area a while back with the new canopy, they blew their chance to create a charming, Tex-Mex themed outdoor dining area that would have the same theme as their indoor dining area.
Instead, they put up an enormous, industrial-looking bright green canopy with steel (aluminum?) posts, semi-opaque plastic walls, cheap plastic furniture. The combined effect has all the charm of a tent sale in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart.
Imagine what this place would feel like if a more earth tone canopy fabric were chosen (i.e. terra cotta), more architecturally compatible structural elements (hell, they could have had them painted at the factory), some plants,fountain(s), palm-frond ceiling fans, etc., etc., etc.
It doesn’t take much imagination or much more money than they spent.
I would be less inclined to criticize this visual monstrosity if it was in the back of their building and not prominently displayed on the corner. Unfortunately, their site doesn’t allow this so all the more reason they should have done something nice there.
I had to vent about that…it’s been bugging me since they did it. That felt good!
Rumor has it around the office here - practically adjacent to the Portico site - is that the condo will be without its own parking structure (underground or surface.) Is that true?
Re: Mi Rancho
When I lived in Texas, most of the good Tex-Mex places had fairly cheap outdoor seating. It was either those prefab plastic chairs or picnic tables. I agree that the owners of Mi Rancho could have gone a little higher scale, but it IS actually authentic.
Ok, now I have a craving for Tex-Mex. Here’s a cheap and easy recipe from my grad school days down there. Take a can of pinto beans (with bacon, not the kind preseasoned with jalapenos unless you want fire to come out of your ears) and pour into a sauce pan. Add a can of Ro-tell. Warm it up. Just before you’re going to serve, toss in a handful of freshly chopped cilantro. Cheap, tasty, and people tend to think you slaved over a hot stove for hours.
Thanks, Terry…I was going to go to the gym but now I might have to do something far more indulgent: go pig out at…you guessed it: Mi Rancho.
I know the Portico residents might not like the constant smell from that restaurant, but for us pedestrians getting a whiff of that meat on the grill it is difficult not to drop in for some good grub.
Isn’t that the truth. Mi Rancho to me is comfort food. The staff is also nice.
Centex is big enough to run 2 projects at once. What makes you think they’re not moving on 1200 E/W Highway?
And why is there a real estate sign on the fence of the adjacent property? I thought that was going to be a 4/5 story condo bldg.
I’m not sure if Centex is well-grounded enough in urban projects in this area (their CityHomes brand is pretty big around Dallas, I’ve been told) to run two in Silver Spring at the same time. It would make sense that 1200 East West would go first, I feel like, given they may not want to go straight off Patriot’s plans with the Portico.
Have you all heard any plans for the burned out building on Colesville across from Discovery? It seems like a prime location, but is a kind of skinny lot.
terry,
I agree that spot has been vacant for a long time. Perhaps the owner/buyer was trying to acquire the Crown gas station site to make that a workable piece of land.
Either way, I terribly miss the restaurant that was in that strip…I forgot the name, but it was something “Carolina”. They made GREAT southern home cookin’ like I used to have in GA.
Terry, do you see a theme in my posts? I like my food
I never made it to the Carolina Kitchen, much to my regret. I LOVE soul food. Ok, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but the soul food place in the food court of City Place is actually quite good. I’m blanking on the name of the place, but if you’re standing with your back to the glass side of the elevator (and the pond), the place is to your left at about 10 o’clock. Nothing fancy, but really nice greens and so forth. Entrees are things like fried chicken, ribs, fish.
That burned out, boarded-up building is an eye sore.
I think Montgomery County should consider eminant domain action against the owner of that property. Either do something with that property or the county will take over the lot itself for a good price of course.
That Crown gas station is now a Texaco station; so that corner gas station will be there for a long time.
My suspicion is that there are insurance claims issues and lawsuits stemming from that fire back in 2002. If that’s the case then I can see why nothing has been developed on that property.
However, if the owner is just sitting on that land waiting for a mega-million dollar offer…then the county should take over that property and tell the owner to get lost. For the price of course.
I think the big shots at Discovery Inc., local neighborhood groups, local businesses would support an eminant domain action by the county.
I’ll bet you’re right about law suits (insurance, probably) associated with the burned out building. If I recall correctly, it was supposedly a faulty gas line or hook up in the dentist’s office that caused the blaze.
that spot would be great for a wendys
Ah yes, a Wendy’s in that prominent location is just what Silver Spring needs!
Pennster, boy would I love to see a signature 300+ foot mixed use tower at that location.
Anonymous said…
“And why is there a real estate sign on the fence of the adjacent property? I thought that was going to be a 4/5 story condo bldg.”
RE: that sign IS for the 9 story condo tower, the developer is called Perseus Realty.
Did you guys ever read ‘Rating the Projects’? It’s quite informative.
http://silverspringscene.blogspot.com/2006/09/rating-projects-best-and-worst.html
By the way Pennster how can you be contacted? I have important information to send to you.
I just messaged you via the email address which is tagged to your profile from my email address.
I don’t care about a fence, no way anybody’s building a condo in SS right now. The SS condo market is flooded and regional residential real estate is in the toilet. I don’t think SS will see any more residential construction for five years, at least.
Ihateyuppies,
..I totally agree with that area on Colesville being an eyesore. On a similar note, does anyone know what are they going to do with what appears to be an abandoned school on Bonifant St. next to the Roger Miller restaurant and the other businesses? I’m assuming it will either be torn down or converted into residences.
Woodsider,
If I’m not mistaken, I think there is another Carolina Kitchen in the region..I’ll check, because that was some good food!
The abandoned school next to Roger Miller is the future site of the new Silver Spring library.