Cambridge business owner wants Hearn Building demolished
Gene Tolley says, “I can’t live in there. We can’t work in our kitchen in there. We’re borrowing other people’s kitchens.”
Tolley says the Hearn Building in downtown Cambridge has got to go. It collapsed in October and since it butts up right next to Tolley’s property, his building has been condemned.
The building is where he lives, runs his catering business, and has a theater he planned to reopen. Plus, traffic on Race Street is blocked out of fear debris could fall in the street. The blockage prevents easy access to nearby businesses.
Tolley continues, “Anybody in that area knows the building is just waiting to fall like it’s a row of dominos.”
That’s the reason why Tolley is on the agenda at the city council meeting on Monday night to plead his case. He wants it knocked down and is asking others to join him in his effort.
However, the city and the county have partnered up and officials say they’re looking at that destroying the building as a last resort. They’ve applied for four emergency grants to get funds to stabilize it.
Gage Thomas, a Cambridge Commissioner for Ward 4 says, “Right now we’ve got about three walls holding up the whole structure. The whole left side of the building is partially collapsed. We want to stabilize it so we can find more funds to renovate it.”
Officials are trying to take the least intrusive measure on the building, while still maintaining public safety. They say demolition would tear down a part of Cambridge’s history.
Thomas continues, “It’s part of our character of Cambridge and what makes us unique, why we’re charm city on the Eastern Shore.”
Tolley says he understands that, but still thinks the building is just too far gone.
Thomas replies, “We need the building down, please.”
The City of Cambridge does have a potential buyer for the Hearn Building that has expressed interest in rebuilding it.
The city council meeting where Tolley and his supporters plan to address their issues with the building will be at city hall at 7 p.m. on Monday November 9th, 2015.
