Tag Archives: MOCO

Happening Now! Silver Spring Cares Warm Clothing Drive

We are expecting cold weather soon! If you have warm clothing items you no longer need, please consider donating to Silver Spring Cares’ third Annual Winter Clothing Drive benefiting Linkages to Learning at JoAnne Leleck Elementary at Broad Acres.

We’re collecting warm clothing now through December 8th. Items accepted include Winter Coats,  Jackets, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Boots, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Pajamas, Pants, Fleece, Socks, Blankets, etc! If it’s warm and in great condition, it’ll happily find a new home this winter! Please only donate items that are in dignity condition. Please do not donate items that are missing buttons, have stains or tears.

If you’re within a 15-minute drive of downtown Silver Spring, you can schedule your donation pick-up. You can also drop-off donations at the Go Brent office between 9am – 3pm (@ 914 Silver Spring Avenue next to Kaldi’s).

Silver Spring Cares, Go Brent’s not for profit, works to strengthen the Silver Spring community through the power of connection. Linkages to Learning is a school-based collaboration among the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Montgomery County Public Schools and community-based service providers.  

Have more questions? Email heather@silverspringcares.org.

Thanks for helping make Silver Spring a great place to thrive and ensuring all our residents have a warm and healthy winter season!

Casseroles for a Cause is Back! Stay in & Cook October 11-20

Casseroles for a Cause is back just in time for the Fall season! From October 11th through the 20th, Silver Spring Cares will partner with Kokua Foods,  Shepherds Table, and  The Arc Montgomery County. Our goal is to collect 2,000 delicious meals and help keep freezers full for many of our neighbors.

“Did you know that one easy way to support local organizations and families is by preparing casseroles? Volunteering to make a casserole or two helps to keep the freezers full for many of our most vulnerable neighbors. Your effort saves organizations and volunteers time, money and helps to eliminate any immediate food insecurity issues they may be experiencing. And you don’t even have to leave the house!”

Sign-up here to participate in the latest Casseroles for a Cause. Together let’s help make a difference in our community!

Learn more about Silver Spring Cares and how we work to strengthen the Silver Spring community through the power of connection. Whether you are looking to donate items, donate funds, or donate time, Silver Spring Cares is your destination for information on our community’s needs and opportunities for service. By engaging the diverse needs and resources of our residents, we can create a community in which all of us may thrive.

Denizens Second Location is Now Open in Riverdale Park

The beloved Silver Spring brewery, Denizens Brewing Co., has branched out to Prince George’s County, opening their second location in Hyattsville’s Riverdale Park Station.

The 150-seat taproom offers not only their popular go-to brews, but an array of seasonal specials, cocktails, and wine that can fit any palate. The kitchen serves many pub-style eats from burgers and wings to steamed mussels — as well as dishes that incorporate many of their signature brews.

Denizens is located at: 4550 Van Buren St, Riverdale Park, MD 20737

Taproom Hours:
Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 11pm
Friday and Saturday: 11am – 1pm
Brunch is served 11am – 3pm every weekend.

Policy Forum on Accessory Dwelling Units

There’s been much conversation lately about accessory dwelling units. Councilmember Hans Reimer has introduced legislation to amend specific sections of the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance.

So, what is an ADU? An ADU is an accessory dwelling unit, a second dwelling unit that is subordinate to the principal dwelling on the property. An ADU can be an addition, a basement, or a detached/separate structure.

Some see ADUs as a beneficial way to help to increase the housing supply; ADUs can be more affordable and can also supply homeowners with supplemental income. About 7 out of 10 seniors indicate they would like to age in place and ADUs may be helpful in allowing for this.

The Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) proposal would require the property to be owner-occupied, inspected and licensed, separate from the principal dwelling unit with a full kitchen, bathroom and separate entrance, and located on a property with at least two off-street parking spaces, unless the owner obtains a waiver – as allowed under current law.

The proposal removes the maximum size limit on ADUs and additions to ADUs, the prohibition on ADUs in houses that are less than 5 years old, and the requirement that an ADU be a minimum distance from other ADUs. Additionally, the ADU cannot be used as a short-term rental, such as Airbnb, and it allows no more than two unrelated individuals to reside in an ADU.

The meeting was attended by about 100 people, with the great majority of speakers in favor of relaxing regulation. Most opposed had concerns about parking and much of the conversation centered around Takoma Park since many homes there had been “chopped up” into apartments prior to zoning restrictions.

Liz Brent attended the forum, “I am definitely a proponent of changes in laws that would allow for more of the ‘missing middle’ housing.  Less restrictive ADU laws are a good starting point.” Additionally, she believes, “we’re going to have to make larger changes in the R60 (single family) zoning to put a dent in the problem.  We need to allow single family housing to be converted to multi family or be replaced by multi-family construction in busy urban corridors such as Colesville Road, Georgia Avenue, Wayne Avenue, and Piney Branch Road. These would be small buildings of 4 to 6 apartments or condos.”  

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WANT TO LEARN MORE?

You can watch the policy forum via YouTube.

Read the amendment to the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance

Access the ADU fact sheet and visit Council Member Riemer’s website.

The PUBLIC HEARING will be held on Tuesday, February 26 at 7:30PM at the Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville in the 3rd floor hearing room. If you are interested in testifying, you can sign-up in advance.

Get Ahead of the Spring Market

The winter season brings little inventory but as you know the DC-area market typically explodes come Spring. If you intend to buy or sell in 2019, now is the perfect time to meet with an agent to ensure you have a strategy in place and don’t miss out.

Go Brent agents are full-time Realtors who have an unrivaled command of the local market. In 2018, we successfully assisted our clients to buy and sell 145 homes.

Put our expertise to work for you – contact Go Brent to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to talking with you!

Go Brent Welcomes Don Bunuan

Go Brent is expanding once again! We are excited to welcome Don Bunuan to the team. Don is a realtor licensed in Maryland and DC.

“A successful full-time realtor, Don works with both buyers and sellers. Don is best known for his honesty, integrity, attentive service, and ability to effectively communicate with clients. A lifetime DC-area resident, Don focuses his business efforts on the Hyattsville area as well as the Route 1 corridor. Prior to starting his real estate career, Don worked as both a high school teacher and managing grants and contracts for the Department of Education. Don’s excellent communication and negotiation abilities, along with his experience writing contracts, serve him well as he helps clients navigate the process of buying or selling a home.”

To learn more about Don, visit his team profile.

As a dynamic real estate team, Go Brent looks for full-time agents who are dedicated to providing our clients with excellent customer service. If you are a real estate agent licensed in Maryland and/or Washington, D.C. and are interested in learning more about our team, please contact us: liz@gobrent.co.

Silver Spring Cares Presents the 2nd Annual Warm Clothing Drive!

Silver Spring Cares is kicking off their 2nd Annual Winter Clothing Drive to benefit Linkages to Learning at JoAnne Leleck Elementary at Broad Acres. If you find yourself with winter items you no longer need, consider donating your items to the drive. This will help ensure our Silver Spring residents are warm and healthy this winter season! Silver Spring Cares will be going around town picking up donations now through November 30th, just simply sign-up here to schedule your pick-up.

Read more info below via the Silver Spring Cares blog

Items accepted: Winter Coats,  Jackets, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Boots, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Pajamas, Pants, Fleece, Socks, etc! Basically, if it’s warm and in great condition, it’ll happily find a new home this winter! Please only consider donating items that are in excellent and clean condition. Please do not donate items that missing buttons, have stains or tears.

Silver Spring Cares will be hitting the streets to collect your donations. Simply place your clean and gently used donations in a clearly labeled bag and place on your porch for pick up.

Sign up here when you’re ready for pick up. Once your request is received, you will receive an email to confirm pick up. Please be aware that we are only able to pick up within a 20-minute drive of downtown Silver Spring. Have more questions? Email heather@silverspringcares.org. Thanks for helping make Silver Spring a great place to thrive! 

FREE First-Time Homebuyer Seminar – Saturday, October 27

Join Go Brent’s Debbie Gerald and Caliber Home Loans’ Ramez Fahmy for a free First-Time Homebuyer Seminar.

We’ll discuss the ins and outs of purchasing and financing your first home/condo. If you’ve been thinking about buying in the near future, this is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about the buying process.

When:    Saturday,  October 27 from 10:00-11:30AM
Where:   Silver Spring Civic Center in downtown Silver Spring

Please sign-up in advance.

There is no cost or obligation, just plenty of information! Can’t attend but want to know more about the home buying process? Contact Debbie for more information.

Planning Department Addresses Missing Middle Housing in Montgomery County

What is Missing Middle Housing?

Missing Middle Housing are residential structures such as bungalows, duplexes,  triplexes, etc. — dwellings that have have become quite uncommon for developers over the last 70 years. The Montgomery County Planning Department recently presented their Missing Middle Housing Study to the Planning Board on Sept 20, 2018, a study addressing the absence of MMH structures within Montgomery County and their case to revive them within the county’s current housing needs.

The study also recognizes the challenges that should arise if missing middle housing were to be developed within the county’s current housing state but also presents the positive potential it would have for the county’s increasing population, as well as the opportunities it would have for those residents who seek more affordable housing options.

“I wish we had zoning that would encourage highest and best use for housing; we can’t fix our workforce housing shortage without zoning changes,” says Liz Brent. “Who are we to determine when development stops? Are we really prepared to say to the people who fight our fires, provide our emergency services, work in our restaurants, and teach our children that we don’t care how far they have to travel to get to their jobs?”

From the Montgomery County Planning Department’s Press Release:

“It’s clear from the study that, currently, the smaller developers who could create most of the Missing Middle housing types are finding it difficult to do that here,” says Paul Mortensen, a senior urban designer in the Planning Director’s office, who co-authored the report. “The study indicates ways we can streamline the development process for these housing types because the needs of the county are changing and there is a huge market demand for this type of adaptable housing.”

Read full press release from the Montgomery County Planning Department…

Are You Ready to Find Your Dream Home?

Are you ready to find your dream home? Let Go Brent be your guide!
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If you’ve decided to embark on your home buying journey, it’s time to schedule a free consultation with a Go Brent agent. Once we have a sense of your ideal home, we’ll ensure you’re aware of the best available properties in your desired area, price range, and location.

As well-connected experts, we’ll be in touch with other agents and may learn of new listings before they hit the market. And yes, while home searches on the internet can be fun, it can also be a time suck for you. Let us work on your behalf – we’ll send you on-going property and neighborhood updates, plus offer you flexibility for scheduling appointments.

Then when you find “the one,” you can count on our strong command of the sales contract; we’ll prepare a solid offer, minimize your risk, and negotiate on your behalf.

This year, we’ve worked with 50 clients who have purchased homes in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac, and Gaithersburg. We’ve helped first-time homebuyers, clients purchasing larger “move-up” homes, as well as clients who are downsizing.  And if you are thinking of simultaneously buying a new home and selling your current home, we can assist with that too.

When you choose Go Brent, you’ll work with a full-time agent with an unrivaled command of the local market.

Want to know more?
Learn more about our team or contact us to schedule your free consultation!