The memorandum recommends designating the Flower Theater and Shopping Center as a historic site on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. It finds that the resource, built in 1950 in East Silver Spring in response to post-war suburban growth, meets several criteria for designation including embodying the neighborhood shopping center type and representing the notable work of architect John J. Zink. The staff will present this recommendation to the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, and County Council for final approval and inclusion in the area's sector plan.
The memorandum recommends designating the Flower Theater and Shopping Center as a historic site on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. It finds that the resource, built in 1950 in East Silver Spring in response to post-war suburban growth, meets several criteria for designation including embodying the neighborhood shopping center type and representing the notable work of architect John J. Zink. The staff will present this recommendation to the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, and County Council for final approval and inclusion in the area's sector plan.
The memorandum recommends designating the Flower Theater and Shopping Center as a historic site on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. It finds that the resource, built in 1950 in East Silver Spring in response to post-war suburban growth, meets several criteria for designation including embodying the neighborhood shopping center type and representing the notable work of architect John J. Zink. The staff will present this recommendation to the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, and County Council for final approval and inclusion in the area's sector plan.
The memorandum recommends designating the Flower Theater and Shopping Center as a historic site on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. It finds that the resource, built in 1950 in East Silver Spring in response to post-war suburban growth, meets several criteria for designation including embodying the neighborhood shopping center type and representing the notable work of architect John J. Zink. The staff will present this recommendation to the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, and County Council for final approval and inclusion in the area's sector plan.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1/ 4
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION
1a. Thehistoricresourcehascharacter,interest,orvalueaspartofthedevelopment,heritage orculturalcharacteristicsoftheCounty,State,orNation. After World War II, Montgomery County entered a period of rapid expansion and prosperity. The Flower Theater and Shopping Center was constructed in response to an influx of government workers seeking housing in the new residential subdivisions in East Silver Spring and North Takoma Park and who desired local access to goods and services. The Flower Theater and Shopping Center represents the shift away from downtown commercial centers to the suburbs and the increased emphasis on family.
2a.Thehistoricresourceembodiesthedistinctivecharacteristicsofatype,periodormethod ofconstruction. The Flower Theater and Shopping Center represents the neighborhood shopping center type that developed in the 1930s and became more prevalent after World War II. Like the Silver Theatre and Shopping Center, the Flower Theater and its flanking commercial structures were integral to the overall success of the shopping center. With its strong geometric and streamline forms, reeded limestone pillars, zig-zag cornice line, neon sign and triangular marquee, the theater is an intact representative example of an Art Deco movie theater, a type that was characteristic of the second quarter of the twentieth century. The associated shopping center buildings, adorned with complementary late Art Deco motifs, generally retain a high level of integrity of form, and for some of the buildings, materials.
2b.Thehistoricresourcerepresentstheworkofamaster. John J. Zink was one of the great movie theater architects of the 20th century having designed more than 200 theaters in Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and Delaware. Zink was born in Baltimore in 1895 and trained at the firm of Wyatt and Nlting and with renowned theater architect Thomas Lamb. Zink was known for his functional Art Deco and Streamline designs. Several of Zinks theaters in Washington, DC, the Atlas (1938), Senator (1942) and MacArthur (1946), are designated District of Columbia historic sites. Zinks 1939 Senator Theater in Baltimore is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the Baltimore City Landmarks List. The Flower Theater is one of two known movie theaters designed by Zink in Montgomery County. Zinks 1935 Milo Theatre in Rockville was demolished in the 1960s. The Flower Theater is the last theater in this area designed by Zink that remains largely intact.
The Floower Theater and Shoppingg Center markks an importaant commerciaal center at thhe intersectionn of Flower Avenue and Piney P Branchh Road. The two-story t Artt Deco movie theater and associated a onee-story shoppinng center is a landmark in the t communitty and serves as the focal point p of the suurrounding coommunity.
StaffrecommendstheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenter(Resource#37/25)bedesignatedonthe MasterPlanforHistoricPreservation.Stafffindsthatthe building is historically and architecturally significant meeting Criteria 24A3(b)(1)a.,(2)a.,(2)b.and(2)e. as outlined in this report. Staffalsorecommendsthis resourcebeplacedontheLocationalAtlasandIndexofHistoricSitesasaninterimmeasureuntilits evaluationforMasterPlandesignationiscomplete.
