During the COVID-19 shutdown, Peterson Companies and their partners Foulger-Pratt have continued to move ahead with their plans for the makeover of Downtown Silver Spring (DTSS.) The makeover features a new look—murals, a new plaza area, public art, dynamic greenspace, a refreshed brand and campaign and new tenants. In addition, DTSS is partnering with Donna Adi, an internationally acclaimed artist to launch a new branding campaign to correspond with all of the exciting changes.
“During this time, as many of our tenants were shut down, we have been working diligently on getting the necessary approvals to move ahead with our makeover,” said Paul Weinschenk, president of retail for Peterson Companies. “We’re grateful that the Montgomery County Planning Board has continued working with us during this time in getting timely approvals. We’re very excited to be moving ahead.”
Three large scale murals have been unveiled on the property. These include works by James Bullough, a Washington, D.C. expat living in Berlin; No Kings Collective duo Peter Chang and Brandon Hill, known for their work at Nationals Park, The Wharf and other D.C. locations; and 1010, a Hamburg native known for giant murals that portray hyper realistic motifs of cave forms. This joins the art, Impermanence, by David Carlson on the Grand Staircase at DTSS and Brush Strokes by John Sonnier made from Indiana Limestone that was conceived from an interior wall detail of the historic art deco Silver Theatre.
The $10 million exterior refresh includes a beautiful outdoor plaza that will serve as a park and socially distanced gathering place for the community. “We know the importance of blending beautiful outdoor spaces for relaxation with exciting dining and retail” said Weinschenk. When Peterson Companies developed Downtown Silver Spring 20 years ago, it ushered in a new era for Silver Spring and served as a catalyst for the growth and development that has completely transformed the area into an energetic downtown. Since that time, DTSS has become a vibrant neighborhood core featuring shops, restaurants and gathering places for the community.
