Published: May 16, 2008 11:38 pm         

Developer signs Canal Place hotel permit

Clock is ticking for completion of Fairfield Inn

CUMBERLAND - That tick-tick-ticking sound you hear?

It’s the rhythm of a clock that started the countdown Wednesday toward the deadline that Trestle Development LLC must have a new hotel ready for overnight guests at Canal Place.

Leonard Fiore of Leonard S. Fiore Inc. and a partner with John Radionoff of Altoona, Pa., who together comprise Trestle Development LLC, picked up the building permit Thursday for the planned 88-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

The city’s issuance of the permit begins an 18-month timeline. Trestle must break ground within six months, according to the agreement outlined by Assistant Attorney General Phil Deter, who serves as counsel to the board, in a meeting last week. The hotel must be open for business in mid-September 2009.

The company is in default of its lease if it fails to execute these actions, Deter said. Control of the land in question would revert back to Canal Place if that occurs.

“I received word that the building permit had been issued,” said Howard Buchanan, chairman of the Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority. “The city has approved (the permit).”

Cumberland City Administrator Jeff Repp confirmed in an e-mail Thursday the permit has been signed.

Buchanan said on Wednesday, minutes before a special executive session board meeting, that Fiore was due in town Thursday. He had left word with Canal Place staff that should Fiore stop by, he should be contacted.

“(Fiore) didn’t call me,” Buchanan said. “I assumed he would come to our office. I guess he never got there.”

Buchanan said that members, who lacked a quorum, wanted to ask representatives of the Maryland Historic Trust about the procedure in filling vacancies on the board. They also gave state officials the names of people who had shown interest in holding a position on the board.

Allegany County Commissioner Bob Hutcheson said the county will soon be represented on the board by Matt Diaz, director of economic development. If a second representative is possible, that person has not yet been identified.

“The only one I’m sure of is Matt Diaz,” Hutcheson said. Right after that (May 7) meeting, we decided for sure.”

If his name wasn’t submitted Wednesday, Hutcheson said, “it’ll be submitted immediately because we want to get it in there.”

Trust representatives said they would advertise for the replacement of Administrative Officer Michele Crabtree, whose retirement becomes effective June 1. The board had approved forming a search committee, to be headed by board member Colleen Peterson. But Wednesday’s meeting, Buchanan said, eliminates the need for the committee.

The Canal Place board’s next meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tim Mullaney of the Downtown Development Commission is expected to present plans to renovate the nonhistoric structures at the Footer Dye Works Building.

Still to be decided is the fate — and timeline — of the historic sawtooth portion of the building.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.