The Fillmore concert hall in downtown Silver Spring is set to open Thursday night, five years after planning began and nearly a decade after Montgomery County officials’ first efforts to bring a music venue to the location. The Live Nation venue, which holds 750 people seated or 2,000 people standing, kicks off with a performance by R&B artist Mary J. Blige.
But years before Blige entered the picture, the project was bogged down in controversy.
“We were challenged legally in court. We were challenged in Annapolis. We had some legitimate concerns from the citizens in and around [the venue],” County Executive Ike Leggett said in a meeting with the County Council Tuesday. “It has taken a long, long time to get us where we are today.”
| Opening acts |
| Sept. 15 Mary J. Blige |
| Sept. 16 Bruce in the USA |
| Sept. 17 John Legend |
| Sept. 18 Blackstar |
| Sept. 20 Blondie |
| Sept. 23 Bring Me The Horizon |
| Sept. 24 Primus |
| Sept. 27 Cheap Trick |
| Sept. 28 Clayton Anderson, John Luskey, Julienne Irwin and Johnny Napp |
| Sept. 29 Pretty Lights with Nit Grit |
Nearly 10 years ago, then-County Executive Doug Duncan approached the Birchmere music hall. But the deal fell through, and in 2007 Los Angeles-based Live Nation was brought in.
The state and the county each contributed $4 million to the project initially, and the Lee Development Group, which owned the property, donated the space to the county at an estimated value of $3.5 million. Live Nation, which rents the space from the county for about $100,000 annually, agreed to invest at least $2 million in renovations and cover all maintenance costs.
County officials estimated that the benefit to the county would be about $1.8 million annually.
However, the county later contributed an additional $3.3 million to the project without the consent of the County Council, The Washington Examiner learned. The contract provides for a deduction in rent by the amount that some of Live Nation’s costs exceed what was anticipated and allows Live Nation to purchase the space for $8 million — less than the current market value — after 16 years.
The total capital cost over 20 years is estimated at $17 million.
Once concert promoter IMP Productions — which owns the 9:30 Club in the District — got wind of the deal and the significant county subsidies, the company sued the county for not allowing it to bid for the space.
Some County Council members were also unhappy with the proceedings.
“I was not someone who believed that this was a project that our county should subsidize,” said Councilman Roger Berliner, D-Bethesda. “But what’s done is done.”
Although the Fillmore is about to open, more “growing pains” lie ahead, said Leggett, particularly surrounding the potential for traffic congestion.
Since most events will begin at the end of rush hour, the county’s Department of Transportation will have to adjust traffic signals and direct concert-goers to parking at area garages, said DOT Chief Traffic Engineer Emil Wolanin.
Live Nation did not return requests for comment.
