Yesterday's Charm, Today's Convenience

Jason McCool walks his mixed-breed terrier, Fenway, through Falkland Chase in Silver Spring. (By Amy Reinink For The Washington Post)

The fate of the plan hinges on a county council vote that has not yet been scheduled. Montgomery County Council Legislative Attorney Jeff Zyontz said that meeting is likely to be at least a few months away.

Until then, residents such as Victor Henriquez, 39, who has lived in Falkland Chase for four years, are left wondering whether change will come and how they will be affected.

"When they flatten those buildings, it will lose that pseudo-small-scale feeling," Henriquez said. "It will lose its neighborliness -- you don't have that when people are shuttling in and out on an elevator. And it will lose the beauty of the landscaping and the trees, and become more urban in nature."

Falkland Chase has seen change before. In 1994, part of the complex was demolished to make way for the Lenox Park apartments, a luxury high-rise community.

The uncertainty about Falkland Chase's future hasn't dampened residents' enthusiasm for the things they praise: easy Metro access, proximity to downtown Silver Spring, the quiet, leafy grounds, and the historic appeal of the brick buildings with black shutters and red doors.

"You're walking distance from almost everything," Henriquez said. "And there may be cheaper places near here, but do they have hardwood floors? Do they have the trees and landscaping this place does, or were the grounds just flattened to make way for the development? Do they have a good, responsive maintenance staff? Those are the reasons I choose to live here."

Property Manager Douglas Scott, who lives in the complex himself, said the property's aesthetics are a draw for many residents, including himself. He said the swaths of open space, including a large parcel with mature trees called the play area, represent one of his favorite parts of living in Falkland Chase.

"When I walk through the play area right now, with the leaves changing colors, I just look around and think, 'Wow,' " Scott said.

Affection for the community hasn't erased what residents say are some small annoyances.

Parking can be hard to come by without one of the designated spots available to residents for additional rent. McCool said he's been towed three times for accidentally letting his parking permit expire.

"We have issues with limited parking," Scott said in response. "We do not hide that. But we find that with us being so close to the Metro and other conveniences, residents can park and stay parked."

And old buildings have maintenance challenges as well as charm.

Scott said management has taken steps to ensure the complex's historic appearance is matched by modern convenience, offering a promise to resolve any maintenance issue within 24 hours of it coming to management's attention.

McCool said that whenever he has had a problem, including a broken dishwasher and chipped drywall, "they've been really friendly about it and have taken care of it right away."

He said friendly service in the front office represents another of his favorite things about Falkland Chase -- the sense of camaraderie shared by residents and staff members alike.

"People are really friendly in the main office. It's a nice sense of community," McCool said.