South Silver Spring, which abuts the District of Columbia line, is home to one
                  of the business district's biggest eyesores--the Gramax Building, 15 stories of
                  orange brick and broken windows on 13th Street that have been empty for
                  years. In fact, South Silver Spring has four of the business district's seven
                  vacant office buildings, and just a few years ago the area was plagued by
                  drug dealing and gunplay.

                "It was no man's land," said civic activist Randy Boehm.

                  But Boehm is enthusiastic about South Silver Spring's prospects, citing the
                  community development corporation founded by local civic groups in 1997
                  and upcoming public improvements. Chief among these is the $70 million
                  expansion of Montgomery College's Takoma Park campus.

                  The expansion, in areas along Georgia Avenue, Fenton Street and Jesup
                Blair Park, will occur over the next five years as the college builds a health
                  sciences building, a student services building and a cultural arts center with a
                  500-seat auditorium. The buildings will border a renovated Jesup Blair park.

                  A few years ago, plans to expand the crowded campus into Takoma Park
                  were mired in community opposition.

                  But county officials encouraged the college to expand west toward Georgia
                  Avenue and helped the college establish its year-old program hosting
                  American Film Institute workshops.

                  "Rather than just the core area," said Steve Simon, a spokesman for
                  Montgomery College, "the county is looking at all of Silver Spring getting a
                  piece of the revitalization."

                  Residents interested in reviewing the Silver Spring business district master
                  plan and others in Montgomery County can visit the Web site
                  www.clark.net/pub/mncppc/montgom/planning/cbp/

                  Major Public Expenditures For Central Business District

                  These project estimates include money from the county, regional agencies,
                  state and private sector.

                  TOWN CENTER

                  Land acquisition, $42 million.
                  Two parking garages along Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street, $64.6 million.
                  Veterans Plaza, streetscaping, planning and design of overall project, $30.6 million.
                  Silver Theatre renovation and expansion for American Film Institute, $18 million.
                  Round House Theater performing arts facility, $5.2 million.
                  Civic Building, $8 million.

                  OTHER CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT PROJECTS

                  Montgomery College expansion, $70.2 million.
                  Transit Center design and construction, $48 million.
                Georgetown Branch light rail preliminary design, $12.2 million.
                  Bikeways and trails, design and construction, $20 million.
                  Streetscaping, $5 million.
                Dixon Avenue extension, $2 million.

                SOURCES: Silver Spring Redevelopment Office, office of the county
                  executive and Montgomery College.

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