Are we in Maryland yet?
By Silver Springer • Apr 14th, 2008 • Category: Silver Springer
That’s what I’m sure out of staters are thinking when they cross the Maryland/D.C. line into Silver Spring. The fact is that they can’t tell and who can blame them? To the untrained eye they’re still in some neighborhood in D.C. And why would one be so confused you ask? Well for one there are no Maryland or Montgomery County flags in the right places.
I searched high and low to find the Maryland flag where ever there was a flag pole. The result…they were very hard to find. The only place of significant exposure was the new Silver Spring Fire station.
This is simply a reflection of how Montgomery County is so disconnected from the rest of the state falling into an in-between place which leaves it vulnerable because it lacks a strong branding of its own. Not quite with the Baltimoreans and definitely not sharing government as well as being more competitive against the District of Columbians and Virginians. There should be a strong connection to Prince George’s County but they act like they don’t exist. Montgomery: the lone star County.
On the other hand in the middle of the Bethesda Metro Center you’ll find the Maryland, Montgomery County, and American flags all standing proudly and prominently side by side at the same height. At White Flint Mall this is the case as well.
In the Baltimore area a sense of being a Marylander in today’s world is far more prevalent. Starting from Howard County you can find Maryland Flags hanging from simple single family homes. In the City of Baltimore whole buildings make up the red, white, yellow and black.
Perhaps Silver Spring is just special? Oddly enough the only place you’ll find the Montgomery County Flag is at select parking garages, you won’t find it at the Wayne or City Place garages but you will find it at the old dilapidated garages like the Kennett Street garage or the Spring-Colesville Garage (Garage 21); that’s something to be proud of.
In Silver Spring, the problem lies with not only the government but businesses, and residents. I’m not falling for the typical answer that “people are transient in this area†cause Silver Spring has some of the oldest neighborhoods in the state with many residents living in the same place for decades. They feel closer to D.C. than they do their own state and D.C. “don’t want nothing to do with themâ€.
The trick by businesses may be to fool people that they’re still in D.C. for some sort of odd competitive edge. I’m not sure why though considering most people travel up Georgia Ave and the D.C. side leaves a lot to be desired. I’m not certain why you would want to draw a connection to D.C. side of Georgia Ave anyways (at least before you get to Howard U). Or perhaps it just never crossed their minds or maybe the Maryland and Montgomery County flag’s are too expensive?
All I know is that there was no Maryland or Montgomery County Flags where ever there was a flag pole at any of the Silver Spring businesses/office buildings large or small. Even if they can trace the beginning of their existence to this very County.
Even with the Chevy Chase Bank’s de facto headquarters in Bethesda but federal charter lying in McLean, Va; they somehow managed to find a Maryland flag, give it a flag pole of its own and stick it on their property.
Clark Construction has no problem getting to the top of their 16 story, 215’ft building and placing a Maryland flag there.
Whatever happened to state pride?
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Even when you cross the line at Georgia Avenue there are no obvious signs. The Silver Spring sign there is big, but the Maryland sign is tiny and easily missed.
[quote comment="4145"]Even when you cross the line at Georgia Avenue there are no obvious signs. The Silver Spring sign there is big, but the Maryland sign is tiny and easily missed.[/quote]
I know, I thought about that too and someone could still think Silver Spring is some D.C. neighborhood id they don’t know any better.
The signs in D.C. pointing to 495 North don’t tell you you’re heading for Maryland but the 495 South signs in D.C. tell you you’re going to Virginia.
Let’s see if Gary Stith of the Silver Spring Regional Center, or folks from the Chamber of Commerce or the County read the blogs.
Is there a “Welcome to Maryland” sign on Colesville or 16th Street?
Are we more part of Maryland or the “DC Metropolitan Area”?
I’ve felt our disconnect with the State of Maryland is partially because of the media we subscribe to. The cable companies will only carry DC network stations and not Baltimore because they can only carry one of each network (don’t know if that is true). The major newspaper pays little attention to the suburbs. In both cases, there are probably more Maryland subscribers than DC.
AND, therefore, we have both less interest in and less influence in the state.
[quote comment="4147"]Let’s see if Gary Stith of the Silver Spring Regional Center, or folks from the Chamber of Commerce or the County read the blogs.
Is there a “Welcome to Maryland” sign on Colesville or 16th Street?
Are we more part of Maryland or the “DC Metropolitan Area”?
I’ve felt our disconnect with the State of Maryland is partially because of the media we subscribe to. The cable companies will only carry DC network stations and not Baltimore because they can only carry one of each network (don’t know if that is true). The major newspaper pays little attention to the suburbs. In both cases, there are probably more Maryland subscribers than DC.
AND, therefore, we have both less interest in and less influence in the state.[/quote]
rb, very good points.
Interesting article yet I don’t think it proves anything. And yeah, there’s a “Welcome to Maryland” sign at Colesville and 16th right when you go around the traffic circle. You’d think people would know that Silver Spring is in Maryland anyway…most do. The name is plastered on everything already!
The “people are transient” argument no longer holds any weight in DC anyway as the recent study on transience in the country revealed that DC falls in the middle of the pack in terms of this aspect. Nothing less than average in this respect. People in Silver Spring aren’t transient anyway. My family has been there for more than 2 decades and in the DC area for more than 3.
[quote comment="4149"]You’d think people would know that Silver Spring is in Maryland anyway…most do. The name is plastered on everything already!
[/quote]
You would think so,
http://www.silverspringscene.com/blog/2007/01/16/one-last-task-for-the-outgoing-governor/
I don’t think the vast majority of visitors to the area just give it much thought. Even as locals, the only thing we might want to see is a “Welcome To Maryland” kind of sign at each major entry point from DC.
Is it just a slow period for development news lately? Since around December, none of the blogs have much to report on this topic.
Gotta say.. kinda indifferent. Until I moved to MD I didn’t know states had flags… ohk, no not seriously, but practically speaking… MD has more state flags flying that most, by far.
[quote comment="4152"]I don’t think the vast majority of visitors to the area just give it much thought. Even as locals, the only thing we might want to see is a “Welcome To Maryland” kind of sign at each major entry point from DC.
Is it just a slow period for development news lately? Since around December, none of the blogs have much to report on this topic.[/quote]
LOL
You know what would be even better than the standard Maryland brown signs? Ask local or regional artists to make signs. Establish ground rules (durability, have to be able to read the text, must contain “Welcome to Maryland”, no rudeness, etc), then tell them to have at it.
LOL? Uh…here’s another tip from a cub reporter. Go to
http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda/2008/documents/20080424_SilverSpringGreenSpacePlan_print.pdf
and check out the cool concepts proposed starting around page 41
It goes both ways. DC has very few entrance signs. In places like Friendship Heights its hard to tell where DC ends and Maryland begins. I really don’t think most visitors care less. Silver Springs is a great place to live no matter what.
[quote comment="4169"]LOL? Uh…here’s another tip from a cub reporter. Go to
http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda/2008/documents/20080424_SilverSpringGreenSpacePlan_print.pdf
and check out the cool concepts proposed starting around page 41[/quote]
Woodsider, I’m not making jest of you, I’ve been pursuing other ventures and it has been a little slow but thanks for that link, looks like the Planning dept reads my stuff.
I didn’t take it the wrong way, don’t worry. They’re concept (or was it yours) for the Blairs lot is really great. It would become kind of a second downtown.
Their.
Yes, there is a sign coming into Silver Spring on 16th St. But there is nothing to distinguish Silver Spring from DC on Georgia Ave. DC has posted signs about the revival of the Georgia Ave corridor. I do think Silver Spring should focus on something to promote its significance. I thought that ‘Silver Sprung’ was a step in the right direction, but it looks like they dropped that ad campaign.