Published: May 24, 2007 09:56 am         

Old Gandalf's could give university downtown presence

FROSTBURG - The fire-ravaged Gandalf's Building on Frostburg's Main Street, soon to be renovated by a District of Columbia developer, could provide Frostburg State University with the downtown presence it has been seeking, although a university spokesman said other locations are in the running.

"The university has expressed interest in increasing our presence in downtown Frostburg and we are currently exploring various options," said Stephen Spahr, vice president of economic development and government relations, on Wednesday. 'The Lyric Building is just one of those options. A final decision will be based on what serves the best interest of both the university and community."

City Administrator John Kirby said that Frostburg, the owner of the building, could sell it to developer Michael Joy as early as May 31.

"It is my understanding that FSU is looking for a place to open a satellite book store where they would sell logo paraphernalia such as shirts, mugs and the like. It's not a store that would compete with Main Street Books."

Kirby said the city and Joy have worked out some minor technical points, thus making closure of the deal imminent.

Joy has told the Times-News that he plans to install 13 luxury apartments on the upper levels and rent the ground level space. Joy created similar apartments in the former Zembower Hardware Store on Liberty Street in Cumberland.

The building, which encompasses 16-24 E. Main St. in Frostburg, burned in February 2004. At the time, it housed Gandalf's Restaurant and Tavern, the clothing store Wearhouse War and a number of apartments. It was previously the home of the Lyric Theater and has become known in recent times as the Lyric Building. The structure was given to Frostburg by Harold Taylor, who owned it at the time of the blaze.

Frostburg will sell Joy the building for $289,000, the same amount of grant money used by the city to stabilize the structure. Upon occupancy, Frostburg would return Joy's money to him and put the building on the tax records at about $1,200 per year.

Joy said in April that the building would be ready for occupancy in about one year.

During his recent inaugural address, FSU President Jonathan Gibralter recognized the importance of giving the university some visibility downtown.

"We also must have a greater presence in the city of Frostburg. This is the first step in another kind of economic development," Gibralter said. "I am committed to working with the city of Frostburg to create an economically vibrant university town and to continue to strengthen the link between the university and downtown.

"Frostburg State University owes its existence to this community, and we must view economic development as a vehicle to create a community where our students will want to stay after they graduate - as many have told me they would prefer to do. We can help them become the future economic base of Allegany County and prepare our greater community for the transformations ahead."

Michael A. Sawyers can be reached at msawyers@times-news.com.