Downtown project could be finished by early 2008

By DAN DEARTH dan.dearth@herald-mail.com

A major portion of the construction project in the first block of South Potomac Street in downtown Hagerstown should be finished by early 2008, said Irv Gish, director of special development for Bowman Development Corp.

Construction on the multimillion dollar project, which is next to Duffy's on Potomac and funded entirely with private money, started in 2005, Gish said.

"We really don't have a definite schedule," he said. "We're trying to design as we go."

The project includes the renovation of three adjacent properties - the Walker House, the Tri-State Electric building and the site of the former Double T Lounge.

The construction in the Walker House includes building offices on the first and second floors, and a luxury two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment on the third floor, Gish said.

The Tri-State building will feature a restaurant on the first floor, and a bar in the basement for private parties, he said. The upper two floors will be office space.

Gish said a glass-covered walkway is being built along the south wall of the Tri-State building that will lead from the sidewalk off Potomac Street to a parking garage in the rear.

People will be able to enter the restaurant and the other businesses from the walkway, he said.

Gish said the city's plan to widen the sidewalks on that block of South Potomac Street could create enough space to set up sidewalk cafes for outside dining.

City Engineer Rodney Tissue said last month that the city wants to choose a contractor in October to widen the sidewalks.




Well, now we know what actually for sure what will be on south potomac.

Is there a demand for the office space down here? Seriously.

If you look at other cities their downtowns are flooded with booming office units and are pricey, so yes there would be a demand, the problem was in the past, no one gave downtown this much revitilization effort unlike what is happening now downtown. Developers are actually serious this time about making downtown right, because face it, Hagerstown is getting all built up in the suburbs, where else will they have more entertainment/living/office space and nightlife? Its just way to crowded everywhere you go around here.

There are several buildings downtown with vacant space for rent, but a lot of the office space currently available isn't really ready for immediate occupancy. You'd need to work with the building's owner to renovate it to what you'd need. Much of it hasn't been renovated in decades and there are many buildings that probably should be condemned outright IMO. It's great that there will be some brand-new office space available soon in town for smaller businesses, where you would have central A/C and an elevator without having to ask for such basic amenities. I bet it will come at a high cost, though, which is why there are so many unimproved buildings in the first place. Not many people have such deep pockets to do what Bowman's doing.

I love soda blasting. I love soda blasting. Really...I love soda blasting.



Please dear lord let them finish this stupid project.

Come on people, we are talking about downtown Hagersbush!!!

These "developers" are crazy. The only thing they are going to get out of this are big tax write offs when they fail miserably.

Oh well. Dream on oh hagersburg, one day you might grow up. (Personally, I hope not, but again OH FLIPPING WELL!)

Has anybody else heard about the new theater opening in January 2008 downtown hagerstown? I heard its pretty nice new/renovated with lots of sponsors. http://www.potomacplaymakers.com/ I know this organization has been around for a while downtown but its good another new thing is happening downtown, and better yet they are advertising in good local sources for this new establishment.

yeah that makes tons of sense. May I add that there is already interest in these establishments such as the luxury condos Demcore plans to renovate in the core of downtown? They ALREADY GOT thee forms and such from potential buyers which means they aren't just building at a chance by chance business here. Just thought you should know that. The developers are not crazy, they are smarter than you are in all respect. Simply because they they have down this before with similar places, and also developers made downtown Frederick into a thriving downtown area with retail, and living/office/entertainment, so its from experience and history here. You have to learn from the past, something you seem to neglect. Thats ok, I see how you could look at it that way as a risk, and it is, but isn't most things in life a risk? Isn't starting a business a risk? Isn't getting married a risk? Isn't making money a risk? I mean what isn't a risk these days, sheesh. The END.

Oh my.....????....such diverse worlds of thought from many sectors.........Kumbyaw....

Well who other than Changeisgood hears the "If you build it they will come" voices.

I certainly don't.

I do!

As much as changeisgood's unbridled enthusiasm annoys certain members of this forum, I for one find it a refreshing change. That may be because I moved to Wash. Co. in 1994, so to the majority of people who live here, I am and will always be an outsider, god forbid... Many many people from outside of this area don't have the same negative preconceptions as the people who have lived here all their lives. We've had friends visit from out of town (from Syracuse, from DC, from Cleveland, from Charlotte, etc.) and they all thought Hagerstown was a little rough around the edges, yet charming, and couldn't get over how cheap it is here. Just my two cents.

the whole debate sort of irritates me, because for years everyone whined about how there was nothing here, nothing to do, nowhere to eat, etc... and now there's a boom, and lots of new things are coming to the area, and i've noticed that many people are still very negative.... obviously there will never be a scenario where EVERYONE is happy, but lets not be the kind of people who complain about the summer heat, only to damn the cold in december....

To be honest, I have there is a property downtown hagerstown that which I do not own, yet have in influence on for a future esablsihment. Once the luxury condos are there, and I am hearing next summer at this time, that establishment will be worth much more and condisdering the possibilities. Most people don't think of these things because right now downtown isn't the hottest real-estate market right now. However, many wouldn be suprised to hear about what is coming... thats all I'm gonna say right now. Mock me, don't mind it, mock me more, people will kick themselves in 3 years that they didn't buy a parcel space whether it would be office/condos/apartment/retail/etc. I'm not trying to make fun of people who don't believe in downtown hagerstown, I'm just overlooking the time span, thats all, nothing else. You got to remember a city's restoration doens't come overnight, yet their perception of the downtown can long outlast what it will truly become.....

Anyway, just got word Antietam Cable is one of the big major sponsors for Downtown Live this year. (last year people were complaining who were at the event that there was a lack of advertisement about the event) So this year they are really ramping it up top notch.