The demolition permit for the Hagerstown roundhouse was approved on Friday, the city's building inspector said.

CSX Corp.'s contractor applied for the permit on Oct. 29, but City Building Inspector Mike Heyser said he didn't rush to approve the permit because CSX officials weren't in a hurry.

CSX Real Property Director Kevin Hurley couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.

After the permit application was filed, Hurley said nothing would happen to the crescent-shaped building right away. CSX officials were trying to get everything lined up so demolition could proceed when ready, he said.

The Maryland Department of General Services is actively reviewing a request from the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum Inc. to take over the title of the roundhouse complex from CSX, said spokesman Dave Humphrey.

Museum officials want to restore the roundhouse and some of the complex's other buildings along South Burhans Boulevard to develop them into a tourist attraction.

The roundhouse is part of the largest remaining railroad complex from the steam era.

Humphrey said the department's real estate officials have toured the complex.

They haven't set a deadline to determine whether the state will take over the land, he said.

CSX has permits to demolish 35 of 37 structures with permit fees totaling $3,593 so far for the project, which was estimated to cost $995,000, according to the city's permit office.

The only two buildings for which CSX doesn't have demolition permits are the south erecting shop and the powerhouse/boiler room.