Aberdeen leaders hope to take over county community services building

The city of Aberdeen wants to move forward with taking over the former Aberdeen High School building on Philadelphia Boulevard that had been used by Harford County and other community services since the 1970s.Phyllis Grover, the city's Planning and Community Development Director, asked the City Council to approve a resolution Monday to apply for a state community development grant of up to $785,000 toward the project, which is identified as a Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund project. The resolution passed unanimously.Acquiring the old school building is one of several redevelopment initiatives for the Festival Park/City Hall neighborhood and elsewhere in the city for which grant funds will be considered and sought in the coming months, according to Mayor Patrick McGrady.The former high school, which fronts on Route 40 and also faces Festival Park, was built for older students in 1908 and expanded to accommodate elementary students in 1924, according to a report from the Maryland Historical Trust. Harford County government took control of the building in 1974.Although the city does not yet know exactly what it would do with the building, Grover said she did not want to miss the chance to apply for the grant this year.The city conducted a feasibility study on the building under previous Mayor Mike Bennett, Grover noted after the meeting.Harford County intends to surplus the building for $1, county government spokesperson Cindy Mumby said Tuesday.County Executive Barry Glassman's administration expects to propose a bill before the County Council on Aug. 16, she said. The building has been closed for nearly two years, when a plumbing problem flooded it and forced employees to move.McGrady said the city has discussed potential redevelopment and the state is very anxious for the city to own the building and do something with it. He said the property was assessed at about $850,000.&quot;It is a key piece of property that I believe needs to be in the city's control,&quot; he said during the council meeting.The city would not be under any obligation to demolish the building as part of the grant, McGrady said.Randy Robertson, the new city manager, told McGrady he believes a decision on the building depends on the council's vision for the property. One possibility he mentioned was to convert it into housing.&quot;Houses are tough,&quot; Robertson said, adding he and his wife have been struggling to buy a house in Aberdeen in the current housing market, noting they have had to reconsider what interests them because they may not necessarily want to mow a big lawn, for example.McGrady said he hopes to have a plan by September.&quot;Real estate without a plan is just a pile of granite,&quot; he said.The building acquisition is one of a handful of projects, mostly in the downtown and east Aberdeen area, for which the council hopes to get grant funding for redevelopment.McGrady discussed a resolution supporting the city's quest for community block grant funding of up to $283,886 for several projects, including $200,000 to build more parking at Franklin and Parke streets, $30,000 for two bus shelters, $35,680 to repave the parking lot at the Aberdeen Family Swim Center, $11,200 for 20 trash cans throughout the city, $85,000 for new playground equipment, police cameras and fencing in the first block of East Bel Air Avenue, $15,000 to upgrade interior lights in the Boys & Girls Club gymnasium and $8,000 for Aberdeen Parks and Recreation wrestling mats.The council did not vote on that resolution Monday, however, because McGrady said it was not ready.He explained the parking plan would add 40 spaces and a small area of open space across the street from Festival Park and next to the Senior Center. The city acquired and demolished houses on the site under Bennett's administration.McGrady said he wants angled parking so it does not take up the entire parcel and hopes to use the open space for a gazebo or other park-type amenities.Harford County, meanwhile, has agreed to deliver the bus shelters if the city agrees to build six concrete pads for them. McGrady said he hopes to erect up to six shelters, especially for the bus stop at MARC train station, the most heavily-used in the county.

Aberdeen leaders hope to take over county community services building

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