(Feb. 2, 2017) For the second time in two years, Pocomoke City has been denied demolition funding for the old firehouse and armory by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
As City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot informed the council during its regular meeting last week, the denials came as no surprise.
“We knew it was coming,” he said.
The rejection letter provided to the town and signed by Carol Gilbert, assistant secretary of the department, explains that 26 projects seeking a total of $9 million applied for the available funding.
Only $3.5 million of allocated funding was available for projects. Proposals were competitively ranked, according to the letter, on factors such as economic impact, readiness to proceed, local commitment and leveraging.
The town is divided on what to do with the facilities. Council members like Diane Downing are in favor of selling the firehouse for the $2,500 top bid the town received last year. Crofoot would rather shore up the legal title to the firehouse in an effort to attract a more lucrative offer, while certain church groups are interested in using the buildings as community centers.
At the same time, these grant applications had been submitted to raze the buildings entirely.
While acknowledging the need for a community center, mayor Bruce Morrison said he preferred that discussion to take place concerning the armory, because certain aspects of a center, like a basketball court, are already in place there.
All parties appear to agree that both buildings need serious reconditioning before either could be opened to the public.
Another application, on behalf of the Costen House Museum, was also denied.
According to that rejection letter, also signed by Gilbert, 131 projects applied for funding totaling $27 million, but only $6 million in allocated funding was available.
As City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot informed the council during its regular meeting last week, the denials came as no surprise.
“We knew it was coming,” he said.
The rejection letter provided to the town and signed by Carol Gilbert, assistant secretary of the department, explains that 26 projects seeking a total of $9 million applied for the available funding.
Only $3.5 million of allocated funding was available for projects. Proposals were competitively ranked, according to the letter, on factors such as economic impact, readiness to proceed, local commitment and leveraging.
The town is divided on what to do with the facilities. Council members like Diane Downing are in favor of selling the firehouse for the $2,500 top bid the town received last year. Crofoot would rather shore up the legal title to the firehouse in an effort to attract a more lucrative offer, while certain church groups are interested in using the buildings as community centers.
At the same time, these grant applications had been submitted to raze the buildings entirely.
While acknowledging the need for a community center, mayor Bruce Morrison said he preferred that discussion to take place concerning the armory, because certain aspects of a center, like a basketball court, are already in place there.
All parties appear to agree that both buildings need serious reconditioning before either could be opened to the public.
Another application, on behalf of the Costen House Museum, was also denied.
According to that rejection letter, also signed by Gilbert, 131 projects applied for funding totaling $27 million, but only $6 million in allocated funding was available.