Historic Preservation Commission Considers Design of Downtown Hotel at Carroll Creek

Over the past month, the talented design team from Bates Architects and Peter Fillat Architects, has twice presented information regarding the design and background of the exciting new proposed Downtown Hotel at Carroll Creek.   The hotel and conference center is proposed as a full-service Marriott with approximately 183 guest rooms, 20,000 square feet of net rentable meeting space and structured public parking.  The next HPC workshop is scheduled for August 24^th at 6PM at City Hall.

Creek View

The unique project design has been crafted after careful consideration of many options.  The design delicately balances programmatic, historic preservation, community, and fiscal needs. It includes the full renovation and adaptive reuse of the historic Frederick Railway Terminal Building along with the proposed new infill construction of the Downtown Hotel.  However, because of physical constraints coupled with programmatic and fiscal challenges, the project requires the selective deconstruction and removal of the former Birely “Tannery” Building which has been vacant for many years.  Based on the HPC guidelines regarding demolition, the team believes that the retention of the Birely Building would be a deterrent to the construction of a major community improvement program and would not be in the best interest of the majority of citizens.  The design team does not take lightly the building removal, and is fully prepared to implement mitigation strategies developed in collaboration with the HPC, MHT, and community.  The Downtown Hotel at Carroll Creek can help educate and excite thousands of citizens and visitors alike each year about our rich heritage including the tanning industry and its workforce.

Trolley Building

The City and its partners at the County, State, and Tourism Council will be funding the purchase of development site (land) and construction of public improvements including the on-site structured parking garage which will be open to the public and related streetscape, roadway, and utility improvements.  The project developer, Plamondon Hospitality Partners – a local Frederick company - will be solely paying to construct, operate, and maintain the hotel and meeting space above the city parking garage.

Patrick Street Entrance

This major community capital improvement project is led by long-time Frederick businessman Earl H. Robbins, Jr. and includes leadership from the City, County, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Partnership, Tourism Council, and many business, resident, and community leaders.