Governor Martin O’Malley called out the countdown for ten gold shovels to symbolically cut into the ground behind the historic McCord Laundry and Brick Row buildings on South Washington Street in Easton on Saturday, July 18 to mark the beginning of the restoration and repurposing of the once elegant brick structures to become the home of the Eastern Shore Conservation Center, a collaborative hub of like-minded conservation organizations.
The center, envisioned and promoted by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, has received commitments from six unnamed organizations to house offices there and has raised $5 million of the 7.6 million needed to complete the project.
Along with its complete restoration and interior redesign for offices and apartments, the new design calls for a public courtyard space for educational programs, concerts and seminars. There will also be a café near the courtyard.
The project will have a catalyzing effect on two fronts. By offering a single location for six or more non-profit conservation groups will encourage interactive participation in meeting the Eastern Shore’s environmental challenges, and the restoration of the building itself reflects ESLC directive to enhance urban areas in tandem with rural and bay environments by re-energizing the South Washington Street neighborhood.
Close to 200 people attended the ceremony including Easton Mayor Bob Willey and Talbot County Councilman Laura Price, Tom Duncan and Dirck Bartlett, Shawn Garvin And Linda Miller from the EPA, U.S, Senator Birch Bayh, Jr. and many State Mid-Shore representatives.
This video shows excerpts from the deliberation, starting with Capital Campaign Co-Chairman Jennifer Stanley, followed by Governor Martin O’Malley and Executive Director of ESLC, Rob Etgan. Shawn Garvin of the EPA also spoke during the ceremony and The Honorable Harry Hughes was unable to attend.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.