Hurwitz Makes Bid For Silver Spring Site

Two months ago, the Washington Post reported that Montgomery County had abruptly ended talks with the Birchmere about opening an outpost in Silver Spring.

According to the Post, Live Nation, “the world’s largest producer of live concerts,” was also interested in operating a venue at the Silver Spring site, which was once home to a J.C. Penney.

Now 9:30 Club owner Seth Hurwitz is throwing his hat into the ring, too. In a Sept. 24 letter to county executive Isiah Leggett, Hurwitz said he wanted “to officially express my interest in working with Montgomery County to bring a music venue to the location.”

He noted that I.M.P., his concert-production company, has been headquartered in the county since 1980, and he trumpeted the company’s success revitalizing the Merriweather Post Pavillion a few years ago.

“This proven track record is what we would bring to a partnership with you to create a facility that would be the pride of Silver Spring,” he wrote in the letter.

He said he would be reaching out to Lee Development Group, which, according to the Post, has pledged 9,000 square feet of land to the project, to begin negotiations as well.

"I have always been looking for a venue that would be bigger than the 9:30 Club," he said. "I'm not interested in doing another 9:30 Club, but I would look at a mid-size venue."