Published: March
28, 2007
Group
pays off $650,000 debt
on
building that will house museum
Maria
Smith
Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND - The group that
plans to open the Allegany County Museum at the current district court building
has paid off a $650,000 mortgage, but it's not about to kick out the state
agencies quite yet.
Gary Bartik, president of the Western Maryland Station Center Inc., said the
group paid off the debt only a month ago - taking just a little more than six
years to do so. While it's left the bank account a little low, members feel
they've "done pretty well."
The group isn't ready to relocate the museum nor does it appear the state has
made a solid decision on where - or when - to move district court, even though
the state has known since the November 2000 building purchase that a move would
be necessary.
Bartik said while he's not privy to the state's plans, he believes the state is
"being pretty up front with us." He also confirmed the center is in
negotiations with the state's Department of General Services to extend the lease
for offices located there, including the Department of Natural Resources.
The leases are up in about a month, he said.
"There really isn't a solid deadline," Bartik said. "We told them
we would work with them on a friendly timetable."
Bartik isn't alone when it comes to not being in the know concerning the status
of district court.
Neither Mayor Lee Fiedler nor Delegate LeRoy Myers, the only District 1 delegate
to the General Assembly serving downtown Cumberland, has heard anything either.
Myers said he and fellow Delegate Kevin Kelly had just talked about it and
believe things are moving along. It's his understanding that conversations are
ongoing as to how long the lease will be extended and the cost.
"I think it's right on track," Myers said of the project.
Dave Humphrey, director of external affairs for the state's Department of
General Services, said the procurement process is ongoing and no decisions have
been made on a location. He said that last week he spoke to someone in the
department's Office of Real Estate, which evaluated the proposals that came in
last October. Those were good for 90 days but because the state is in
negotiations, they are extended automatically.
Humphrey said the state is in the process of asking for a "best and
final" cost for the project with the potential person or company that will
be involved in the process.
He has said previously that the cost will depend on whether a building must be
constructed or if one can be found for lease.
Humphrey also has said if a new courthouse is built, it would take about 18
months to complete. The state then would lease that building.
A new building would require 57,690 gross square feet, of which 34,133 would be
usable space. An existing facility would be required to have 28,500 usable
square feet for district court and parole and probation.
Procurement law prohibits Humphrey from releasing any more details.
Named for former Gov. William Donald Schaefer, the building at the intersection
of Mechanic and Pershing streets was purchased by the Western Maryland Station
Center Inc. from the Allegany County commissioners. The four-story granite
building, at nearly 40,000 square feet, was constructed in 1920, according to
the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Bartik said members have held a number of work sessions with an architect to
begin designs for the museum. Work is expected to occur in two phases, with the
first floor one and the second floor another. Cost estimates then will be
generated.
Seven years ago, renovation costs were estimated at $100 per square foot.
Bartik said the group probably will conduct fundraisers as well as seek grant
funding to pay for the renovations and to help sustain the museum once it's
completed. Federal, state, county and municipal funding possibilities also are
on the table.
"We're looking at anything and everything," he said.
Originally called the Transportation and Industry Museum, it was housed on the
first floor of the Western Maryland Railway Station.
Now known as the Allegany County Museum, it's located at 81 Baltimore St.
Bartik said when the museum moves to its new home, he hopes to be a contributor
to its neighbor, Canal Place.
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Cumberland
Times-News - Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
See also:
Funding
Bills for Planning Museum Building Introduced in Legislature
State
Legislature Approves Bond Bill for Allegany County Museum
Allegany
Museum Seeks Bond Bill For Construction Allegany
Museum Awarded State Grant of $225,000 For Construction |
.
