Prince George’s County has filed paperwork to demolish the Old Marlboro Elementary School building, to the dismay of Upper Marlboro officials and residents who previously had requested the county either preserve or renovate the building.

In its application, received Jan. 18 by the county Historic Preservation Commission, the county’s Office of Central Services said it wants to tear down the vacant school to build a Family Justice Center on the site. The center would be a one-stop shop for victims of domestic violence to receive services from Prince George’s County Circuit Court, the county sheriff’s office, and other agencies and nonprofits.

The demolition first must be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission, given the site’s historic status, but some members said they were concerned by OCS’ denial of requests by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission staff to survey the property, a necessity for being able to evaluate its significance and condition.

The commission will hold a hearing, tentatively slated for late February, on the county’s application.

The Old Marlboro Elementary School building, built in 1896, was home to Old Marlboro High School/Marlboro Academy, built in 1921, and used as a school until the 1970s.

The property also is the grave site of Dr. William Beanes, a doctor who treated U.S. soldiers during the Revolutionary War and was captured by British troops during the War of 1812.

Upper Marlboro town Board of Commissioners President Stephen Sonnett said he was disappointed that the county went ahead with its application without consulting with the town first. Sonnett met with Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker (D) on Tuesday evening and said Wednesday they had a “frank” discussion of the issue.

Sonnett said he brought up concerns the town has that the proposed Family Justice Center should actually be located in a more central location in the county, with better access to public transportation, as well as whether the new building would end up overshadowing Dr. Beanes’ grave.

Advocates for the Family Justice Center have said the location allows close access to the county’s courts, which are in Upper Marlboro.

“I also urged them that we need to sit down and talk with both the county and the [Prince George’s County] Planning Department to come up with a realistic view of what Upper Marlboro as a town is going to look like into the future ... so things like this won’t come up,” Sonnett said.

Scott Peterson, a spokesman for Baker, said the county continued to move forward with its plan after its own review of the merits of demolition.

“In due respect to the concerns of the town, County Executive Baker and members of his administration met with the leaders of the town of Upper Marlboro [on Tuesday] to hear first-hand their concerns as well as to be open and transparent about the plans to move forward,” Peterson said.

Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Dave Turner said he was troubled by reports by county planning staff who tried to survey the building in March for possible renovation and reuse but had been denied access to the building by OCS.

Planning staff, who double as the HPC’s staff, need to be able to survey properties to properly assess sites’ potential historical significance, Turner said.

County officials said in December that a survey of the site would have been “premature” because it was not considered “surplus” to the county’s needs.

“My question is what were the reasons for that decision,” Turner said. “It’s not a matter of if [the county] could [deny access to the building], but why.”

George Leonnig, an Upper Marlboro resident and former town commissioner, said he was disappointed that the county has moved forward with its plans, but is glad the town has taken an aggressive approach to at least give itself a chance to prevent the demolition.

“You never really know what’s going to happen with these sorts of things,” Leonnig said. “So you just have to keep on going ahead and get the best information you can, present it to the decision-makers, and just see how it goes.”

ewagner@gazette.net