The City of Greenbelt has begun the process of acquiring the Greenbelt Armory. At the October 18 worksession, the Greenbelt City Council instructed City Attorney Todd Pounds to contact the state, which has ownership, to begin discussions on transferring the property, both the building and the adjoining area, into the holdings of the city. Council has prioritized obtaining the deed foremost over any other future concerns, anxious not to lose this opportunity by not acting soon enough.
There will be no cost for the property, with any future expenditures devoted to remediating and renovating the structure, which has gone unmaintained for some time and suffers from a number of environmental hazards like lead, mold and asbestos. Subsequent negotiations with the state will determine how many of those repairs will be assumed by the state, by the city or a combination of the two.
Council was excited over the possibilities for usage, including office space and potentially the site of a new fire station for the city’s Volunteer Fire Department (VFD). Planning will have to determine if this station can coexist on the site or require demolition of the Armory, which council was reluctant to do. The county would take responsibility for building a station, with the VFD in discussions now on possible designs. Of importance to council and the VFD is ensuring that any future station have a Greenbelt designation.
The Armory is a state-owned property, in conjunction with the National Guard. A clause exists in the deed stipulating that in the event of a transfer, the Armory would revert back to the federal government. Yet, Pounds indicated that already both the state and the federal government have agreed (preliminarily, but not in formal, written form) to waive this clause, thus expediting a clean transfer of the deed to the city. Pounds was unsure how long before that waiver can be completed.
An assessment of the building is required moving forward to determine what repairs are needed and at what cost, an important step in working out with the state what repairs it can take on. The state has a responsibility to pass on the property according to certain standards and has already indicated it is willing to allocate funds for this. Council was eager to take the state up on the offer.
Councilmember Judith Davis felt that the assessment, which would cost $120,000, is vital for transparency with the city’s taxpayers, so they know what kind of product they are getting and its costs.
Councilmember Silke Pope cautioned asking the state for too much, citing the irreplaceable boon the property represents. She asked Pounds to feel the situation out, and if encountering pushback, to take the property as-is. She brought up the example of the Community Center, which also presented maintenance issues at the outset and is now an essential facility for the city.
A space study is being conducted to ascertain the amount of available space for city functions. Space is now at a premium with groups like Greenbelt CARES unable to fully house its employees and their duties. In the last budget, $80,000 was allocated for this study, with the Armory intended to be a part. Yet, so far, the Armory has not been included, something council seeks to remedy. City Treasurer Bertha Gaymon said that there are still funds available for this with Director of Public Works Jim Sterling stating that it would not be a problem to complete.
Davis suggested that support for the Armory could be obtained through designation as an historical state site. Resident Kristen Weaver said that as of 2017, the Armory does not fit the criteria.
Councilmember Emmett Jordan reminded that even if the city takes possession of the site and discovers funds, perhaps through state or municipal bonds, to renovate and stabilize the building, it will be years before it can finally be used fully and safely. He stated that the Armory has been a part of the community already for a long time, that the state is not doing a favor for transferring to the city and that the city need not put itself in a position to plead for assistance in returning this facility to its former condition.
