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Hagerstown official asks county to add funding for Discovery Station reuse study
Summary
City staff asked the council to allow any Washington County contribution to be counted in addition to the city’s share for a predevelopment package to assess reuse of the former Discovery Station on West Washington Street; estimated predevelopment cost is $100,000 and council will record a formal motion at the regular session.
Miss Jill Thompson asked the Hagerstown mayor and council to modify a prior approval so that any Washington County contribution toward the reuse study of the former Discovery Station would be added to — not subtracted from — the city’s commitment. The proposed predevelopment budget covers a feasibility study, appraisal, inspections, legal work and steps to exercise a purchase option and is estimated at $100,000.
Thompson outlined a proposed funding split presented by the Washington County Historical Society: roughly $30,000 from the society, $35,000–$40,000 from the city and a $35,000 request to Washington County. She told the council Washington County has been asked for a contribution and that the society’s board and project lead Andy Stout have advanced the request to county officials; she said indications from the county are mixed but she remains hopeful the county will participate.
Council members did not vote on the change at the work session; Thompson said a motion will be placed on the regular session agenda later this month so the decision will be recorded in the minutes. No formal agreement with Washington County was reported during the work session and exact county contribution remains not specified.
The council packet attached to the presentation lists the Discovery Station reuse tasks included in the $100,000 estimate and the proposed funding breakdown. The council did not set a firm timeline for the feasibility work during this session; staff and the historical society will pursue county engagement and return with more detail when the matter is formally before the council.
