September 13th, 2012 by WCBC Radio
Deciding to cut their losses, the Cumberland Mayor and City Council decided earlier this summer to demolish all or at least a portion of the old Memorial Hospital Building in an effort to see some type of feasible development at that location. Although the former hospital facility is partially leased, is has been costing the city around $250,000 a year to maintain. About a dozen tenants, including J. Green Foods Co. and Western Maryland Area Health Education Agency, occupy portions of the 250,000-square-foot space, which was vacated more than two years ago when the new hospital opened on Willowbrook Road. Ridgecrest Development of Frederick had a 10-year agreement with the city to find new tenants for the building, but the city opted out that of arrangement as a result of a lack of sufficient progress. The action won’t be cheap, with the city anticipating a cost of about $3.5 million to demolish the aging structure. The cost will be part of a five million bond issue. Comptroller Joe Urban said the estimated cost is based on a similar project in neighboring Washington County.
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