One of the most ambitious development projects in the region isn't in DC, Arlington, or Tysons. A local firm has big plans for Silver Spring: 3,000 residential units and a big chunk of retail and public space. It's one of the hot topics we're excited to be taking up at Bisnow's Montgomery County Boom! event this Thursday morning in North Bethesda.

The Tower Companies' Sri Velamati (right) will be on hand Thursday to discuss his firm's massive revamp of its Blairs complex just off Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. The late Sonny Abramson, father of Tower principals Jeffrey and Gary Abramson (on either side of MoCo exec Ike Leggett), originally developed apartments and retail on the site in the '50s, but wanting to take advantage of the 28-acre site's infill location near Metro, the firm will demolish much what's in place to build 2,800 ultra-efficient residential units, 450k SF of retail, and five acres of open space.

The new Blairs will also include this big public courtyard, where Tower plans programming like farmers' markets, movie showings, concerts, and other events to liven up that side of Silver Spring. Our event gets going at 7:30 AM on Thursday at the Bethesda North Marriott, and we're also proud to welcome Federal Realty regional COO Robin McBride to talk Pike & Rose, Foulger-Pratt prez Brigg Bunker to dish on his firm's plans, and MoCo politicos Pam Dunn and Jeff Zyontz among others to discuss how new projects are actually coming to fruition. Click here for more info or to sign up.