Main St. plans due to get OK

The Baltimore Sun

More than a year and a half after a five-alarm fire tore through three buildings on Main Street in Annapolis, a city panel is set to approve plans to fill in the hole on the streetscape.

Even as the battle continues over insurance claims, architect Catherine Purple Cherry will present her proposal for the former site of Zachary's Jewelers, 122 Main St., to the Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday.

"The design is reflective to the 21st century, yet contextual to its surroundings," Cherry said of the plan. "It did not come by the sole desire of an architect."

Cherry's office, Purple Cherry Wilson Architects, worked with the commission, Historic Annapolis Foundation, historic preservation consultant Richard Bierce and the Maryland Historic Trust to develop the project - and to meet all the requirements of rebuilding in the historic district.

"It's a process. It's not just cut and dry," Cherry said.

With the HPC's blessing, the city can grant building permits and construction can get started, said Shari L. Pippen, Annapolis' historic preservation assistant.

This is the last of the three buildings to be repaired since the fire on the cold Friday night after Thanksgiving in 2005. It wiped out Zachary's Jewelers at 122 Main St., Main Street Ice Cream at 128 Main St. and the Candy Factory at 118 Main.

The interior of 128 Main St., severely damaged by smoke and fire, had to be gutted. Cherry reconstructed the interior to make the second and third floors usable for residential purposes. Although the shop has not reopened, the Kilwin's chocolate and ice cream chain will rent and run the building. Work should start in the next week, and the shop should open in the next few months.

The building at 118 Main St. was also completely renovated. The Candy Factory is expected to reopen within the next 30 days, Cherry said. The second and third floors will be residential.

Today, an orange fence continues to block the sidewalk in front of the vacant property.

"As far as hurting Main Street [business], it certainly doesn't help to have empty buildings," said Chance Walgran, general manager of Laurance Clothing and a board member of the Annapolis Business Association. "It's somewhat ridiculous that it's taken as long as it has."

City Planning and Zoning Director Jon Arason and Economic Development coordinator Mike Miron confirmed that delays have stemmed from unresolved issues with the insurance companies' payment for property damages.

Cherry said the owner of 128 Main St. was granted almost $800,000 to cover construction costs but that the owner of 118 Main St. received about $150,000. She predicted the dispute would end up in court.

The owner of 122 Main St., Harvey Blonder, a manager of HB Properties, did not return calls for comment.

Although an application for certificate of approval submitted to the city listed the estimated cost for 122 Main St. at $900,000, Cherry said the cost has not been determined and will depend on approval and modifications by the commission.

No businesses have leased the space at 122 Main St., but Arason said the building will probably have retail on the first floor and offices above, like most of the buildings on the strip.

Steve Samaras, who owns Zachary's Jewelers now housed just down the street at 100 Main, said he hasn't heard anything about the development but is sure it won't take much time to sell, if it is built.

"With the devastation that any fire provides is something the local community has to weather," Samaras said. "But there doesn't seem to be a surplus of property that is not rented in short coming."

rochelle.mcconkie @baltsun.com

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