‘‘I’ve always liked [the Monocacy Valley Canning] building,” Anderson said. ‘‘This seems to be a natural extension of what we’ve already done on East Street. ... It’s an area with good potential for retail and office.”
The build-out of the city’s Carroll Creek project is also expected to bring more office and retail space to the area; Anderson is a member of the city’s Carroll Creek task force board.
Monocacy Valley Canning’s factory was built in 1904, when Frederick was renowned for its canning operations in the East Street area, including McCutcheon’s Apple Products, which is still a working factory. By 1913, Monocacy Valley Canning employed nearly 500 workers who produced 6.5 million cans of fruit and vegetables each year, according to Anderson.
By 1950, canning operations had ceased and Harbaugh & Lewis took over the property, leasing it to Western Maryland Tire. The Jenkins Brothers Cannery later acquired it and eventually lost it to the City of Frederick, which needed an easement for a road extension. Anderson contracted to buy his portion of the property in 1998 for $390,000, settling in 2003.
Anderson, who has worked in his East Frederick office since 1973, said he is also considering renovating the Antique Imports warehouse he owns at 125 East St. downtown.
Tom King of BMK Architects of Frederick said he designed the building to preserve the interior’s historic features such as its brick archways and massive timber trusses.
The building’s design aims to balance contemporary architecture with the more historic look of downtown, King said. Additions will be constructed with glass and steel to showcase the preserved historic features and older portions of the factory.
‘‘It’s always hard to be kind to an old building and practice restraint, not to demolish it,” King said. ‘‘This is a very interesting building on the interior — that’s where the detail and the character come through. ... We’re simply going to build around it.”
The project is timed to coincide with the opening of the East Street extension on Carroll Creek, the Tourism Council’s new visitor center, and the Board of Education building in the summer of 2009.
Rick Curry of B&R Design Group of Frederick engineered the site plan to allow vehicles to enter from East Street, perhaps dropping off passengers under a canopied east wing. The pavilion will feature a terrace for outdoor seating.
The center’s 54 parking spaces will be partially concealed by 5-foot berms made of limestone that Anderson acquired from the former retaining walls at the Frederick Brickworks.
