Demo project underway in Maryland

Officials in Frederick, Maryland, report that the demolition process is underway at the site of a former newspaper printing operation slated to become a hotel and convention center.

“This project represents untapped potential for economic growth, for smart, sustainable development, and for creating opportunities for families in Frederick,” Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor says.

The project is a $100 million public-private partnership designed to boost local tourism and transform downtown Frederick into a "premier destination for conferences and events.” Frederick is located in central Maryland about 50 miles west of Baltimore.

The building being demolished formerly housed printing operations for the Frederick News-Post.

A report from Hotel-Online.com from this February says the structure to be demolished sits on 2.6 acres of land adjacent to another building that may be renovated.

The adjacent 41,000-square-foot Trolley Building may be renovated to host mixed retail and office tenants, according to a July announcement by Frederick-based Bates Architecture PC.

A December ceremony attended by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and other state and local officials marked the start of the demolition phase of the planned redevelopment project.

The decline in daily newspaper circulation has led to several recent or potential future projects for the demolition sector in locations including: Tampa, Florida; Akron, Ohio; and Chicago.