Post by jonsdigs on Apr 14, 2007 8:15:09 GMT -5
City to keep on probing for cave, but not in response to residents
Originally published April 14, 2007
Frederick News Post (Maryland)
By Pamela Rigaux
News-Post Staff
FREDERICK — The city will continue to look for a cave on the site of a 36-unit affordable housing development that the Historic Preservation Commission approved Thursday.
"We were asked to investigate the whole site using special instruments that go down 80 feet through the ground," said Patrick Keegin, director of the City of Frederick's Facilities Administration department.
The decision to hire a contractor is part of the city's normal routine, Keegin said. It was not done in response to residents who were worried about the possibility of a cave beneath the property, at the intersection of South and Carroll streets.
The 36-unit development is part of the larger HOPE VI project being handled by local developer Joe Venezia and the city's Housing Authority. The 36 units are tied to another 97 townhouses and apartments Venezia is proposing on the north end of town, between North Bentz and North Market streets.
Though many of those 97 townhouses and apartments are close to final approval, funding won't be released until both sections get approved, Venezia said Friday. He has until 2008 to spend nearly $16 million raised through various public and private sources on 207 moderately priced units spread throughout Frederick.
Venezia wants construction on the 36-unit project to begin by August. But the plan still has to get public comment and a final sign-off by the HPC, he said.
The approval Thursday came after several versions of Venezia's proposal. An earlier version would have allowed eight more units to be built.
HPC members praised the latest proposal. Even Mike Spencer, the sole dissenter in a 2-1 vote, applauded architectural details.
Joan Jenkins, who owns The Mudd Puddle on South Carroll Street, submitted photos of a fissure in the basement of her building to the HPC on Thursday. She told the commission the fissure is evidence of a hole that might also exist on the HOPE VI property.
Full Article
Originally published April 14, 2007
Frederick News Post (Maryland)
By Pamela Rigaux
News-Post Staff
FREDERICK — The city will continue to look for a cave on the site of a 36-unit affordable housing development that the Historic Preservation Commission approved Thursday.
"We were asked to investigate the whole site using special instruments that go down 80 feet through the ground," said Patrick Keegin, director of the City of Frederick's Facilities Administration department.
The decision to hire a contractor is part of the city's normal routine, Keegin said. It was not done in response to residents who were worried about the possibility of a cave beneath the property, at the intersection of South and Carroll streets.
The 36-unit development is part of the larger HOPE VI project being handled by local developer Joe Venezia and the city's Housing Authority. The 36 units are tied to another 97 townhouses and apartments Venezia is proposing on the north end of town, between North Bentz and North Market streets.
Though many of those 97 townhouses and apartments are close to final approval, funding won't be released until both sections get approved, Venezia said Friday. He has until 2008 to spend nearly $16 million raised through various public and private sources on 207 moderately priced units spread throughout Frederick.
Venezia wants construction on the 36-unit project to begin by August. But the plan still has to get public comment and a final sign-off by the HPC, he said.
The approval Thursday came after several versions of Venezia's proposal. An earlier version would have allowed eight more units to be built.
HPC members praised the latest proposal. Even Mike Spencer, the sole dissenter in a 2-1 vote, applauded architectural details.
Joan Jenkins, who owns The Mudd Puddle on South Carroll Street, submitted photos of a fissure in the basement of her building to the HPC on Thursday. She told the commission the fissure is evidence of a hole that might also exist on the HOPE VI property.
Full Article