Published: February 09, 2007 11:52 am      

Mall managers on move again

CUMBERLAND - In some ways, Ed Mullaney feels like a cat who's at the end of his nine lives.

Now settled into a ninth location in a little more than a decade, the co-manager of the city's Town Centre is making the plea again for permanent space for him and his colleague, Sue Cerutti.

He made the appeal to members of the Downtown Development Commission during their monthly meeting Thursday at City Hall. It's also one they understand.

Member Wade Clark agreed that anyone could say nine moves is "a little excessive."

Mullaney and Cerutti had been at 12 N. Liberty St., a "great space on the 50-yard line," for two years. Only the utilities had to be paid there, thanks to David Steinbach of Washington Realty Co., he added.

The strategy always has been to go into an empty building, get the lights on and try to rent it, Mullaney said.

Service Coordination Inc., formerly known as ARC of Frederick County, finally bit on the Liberty Street space and will move into the first-floor location March 1. The agency works with adults and children with developmental disabilities and originally was located in the same building to which it will return.

Started in Frederick County in 1982, the agency opened here in January 1984 with one coordinator serving Allegany and Garrett counties, according to a spokeswoman. The office then moved to Centre Street before locating to its current space next to the Motor Vehicle Administration.

The office now serves only Allegany County and is preparing to hire its ninth service coordinator.

Mullaney and Cerutti have moved to 10 S. Mechanic St., a building owned by Mullaney that was rented to Wearhouse War, which went out of business in January. Mullaney is willing to pay the expenses of the 2,000-square-foot space, including the $650 a month rent and utilities, for a month.

He said the location provides the connection downtown needs with Canal Place, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and the Allegheny Highlands Trail.

It would make a good place for a permanent home for the downtown managers' office, but if the commission doesn't think so, "this board needs to find a permanent place," Mullaney said.

"I would like to not be on the move all the time," he said, citing the disruption of service and stress of moving as just a few reasons the managers need to stay in one place.

Andy Vick said his building at 111 S. Centre St. will have nearly the same amount of space on two floors available at the end of this month when a hair salon leaves. The space also provides parking in the back but costs $800 plus utilities.

Lee Schwartz, DDC chairman, said it may be time to ask the city to pick up some of the cost.

The downtown managers' phone number has been changed to (301) 722-5500 although the former number provides an option to be connected to their office.

Maria Smith can be reached at msmith@times-news.com.