Evening star., 1953-08-26
.Divergentview,
Heard on Use
Of Armory Lot
Council Witnesses
Agree 1t Should
Be Bought, However

The question was whether
Montgomery County should buy
the armory lot in Silver Spring.
Every speaker at yesterdays
public hearing in Rockville
urged the County Council to
buy it.
But the problem of what to
do with it sent speakers off in
several directions.
The Silver Spring Board of
Trade wants it used as a park
ing lot. A number of civic groups
are fighting to have a commun-
ity center built on it. Using it
for a park has also been sug-
geSted.
The six-acre lot is on the
fringe of Silver Springs business
section. 1t belongs to the Mary
land National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. The
planning commissions ownership
was upheld after a prolonged
battle with the County Council.
which wanted it back free since
the county gave it to the plan
ners in the first place.
2-Acre Gift Offered.
The planning body has offered
it to the county for $500,000.
The Hecht Co. has offered to
give the county nearly two acres
on Colesville road if the county
uses the armory lot for park
ing. The Colesville road prop
erty could then be used for a
community center.
But civic leaders want the
armory lot, or at least some Of
it, for a community center.
David Scull, the Board of
Trade president. argued that
the city's businesses need the
parking space desperately.
Theodore Repplier, 4 SPRING
vale lane, Silver Spring, said a
parking lot there would actually
create new parking troubles.
Parking lots attract trade, he
said, and the increased business
calls for more parking space.
He said it's time for Silver
Spring to stop wooing commerce
while ignoring homeownerS.
Pastor Backs Civic Groups.
Ogden w. Fields, GA Green
brier drive, Silver Spring, like
Mr.. Repplier, a member of the
Evanswood Citizens Association,
also asked the county board to
use the lot for a community
center and to make it into a
green spot in the city.
The Rev. Joseph Deppe.
pastor of st. Michael's Church.
supported the civic groups.
Father Deppe's congregation
has it's church and school next
door and across the street from
the lot.
The First Baptist Church is
also across the street from the
armory ground. Its pastor, the
Rev. Frank K. Brasington, said
he thought it would be all right
to build the community center
on Colesville road and let cars
use the armory lot.
James j. Lynch, 8466 Piney
Branch court, Silver Spring, a
PTA and Mems Club officer in
the Catholic church, spoke up
for the civic groups.
Divided Use Suggested.
John F. Kelly, 8112 Carroll
lane, Silver Spring, represented
the Allied Civic Group of Silver
Spring. He said his organiza-
ton wants two-thirdS of the
armory lot used for a community
center, with the other third used
for parking.
But his organization would be
willing to use the Colesville road
site instead, if the county can't
afford the $500,000 the planners
are asking for the armory acres.
The money would be raised
through a special levy on buSi-
ness firms if the lot is used for
parking.
The council said it would think
over what all the speakers had
to say. Council members said
they couldn't tell when they'll
decide whether to buy.
Mr.. Scull had argued an early
decision. He said a delay might
lead the planning commission to
sell the lot to a private concern,