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The first shovels of dirt turned last week to mark the beginning of construction for the Fillmore Silver Spring music venue, which is slated to open in 2011.

Representatives from Maryland, Montgomery County, Lee Development Group, Live Nation and several hundred people gathered behind the J.C. Penney façade on Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring for the groundbreaking ceremony.

"This music, entertainment and community-use venue is the right project, in the right place, at the right time for the county and state in general and the Silver Spring community in particular," said County Executive Isiah Leggett (D). "The Fillmore is an investment well worth making. It activates a vacant storefront and makes money for the county and state from the start. This exciting venue will create jobs and stimulate more Silver Spring business activity, as well as deliver great music."

The Fillmore will have a capacity of as many as 2,000 people and will feature crystal chandeliers, hardwood floors, dark painted red walls, historic rock art posters and the iconic barrel of complimentary apples at the door.

Leggett, Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, Lee Development Group President Bruce Lee and Live Nation's D.C. President Ted Mankin turned the first shovels.

Initially projected to cost $8 million, the music venue now is $3.2 million over budget. The county will transfer about $2.6 million in unused construction funds from other county projects toward the construction of the hall, said David Dise, director of the Department of General Services. The rest of the money will come from a construction contingency fund for the project or from Live Nation.

abryant@gazette.net