Published: June 29, 2009 11:46 pm      

Brick by brick

New county HRDC building among 15 Smart Site projects

CUMBERLAND — The first round of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s 15 Smart Site projects includes construction of the new Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission building on Virginia Avenue. Smart Sites will focus public and private investment and green building practices in projects to encourage smart growth and revitalization in existing Maryland communities.

HRDC’s new building is viewed as a catalyst for revitalization of the Virginia Avenue corridor. Its community and senior center will serve 7,000 seniors and county residents who live below poverty level.

The building will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design project in Western Maryland. A green roof will address storm water management and monitor the urban heat island effect. A heat pump system will improve air quality and increase energy-efficiency in heating and cooling systems.

The project recently received a $120,000 federal grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to further its energy-efficient systems.

The anticipated occupation date is October.

Smart Site projects can be located in communities around the state and nominations are being accepted from municipal and county governments as well as state agencies. While the size of Smart Site projects may vary, they will all:

• Strengthen public and private partnerships at the local level that leverage substantial private investment in appropriate growth and revitalization areas.

• Educate about the range of exemplary growth and revitalization projects and partnerships in progress in communities throughout Maryland.

• Coordinate state, local and private investment in high-impact projects in targeted areas, including Main Street and Community Legacy areas.

“Focusing investment in Maryland’s great neighborhoods and existing communities is critical to achieving smarter growth in our state,” O’Malley said while announcing the Smart Site designations. “Even in difficult economic times, and perhaps most especially, it is important that we and our local partners focus on the best projects that can revitalize business districts, enhance transit hubs and encourage private investment in those communities that need it the most.”

Other communities included in the first round of Smart Sites were Cambridge, Baltimore, Mount Airy, Taneytown, Laurel, Annapolis, Hyattsville, Prince Frederick and Harford, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Calvert counties.