(Jan. 12, 2017) Pocomoke City and its fire company are scheduled to go to closing at the end of the month after the council approved a deal that gives the town all rights to the former fire company property, while the fire company gets to use the former VFW property for storage.
After the contracts are signed at closing, the fire company will have 270 days, or about nine months, to remove its property from its former home.
While the town owns the lot and main building of the former firehouse on Fifth Street, there is a storage shed located on the property constructed and owned by the fire company. The town had previously tried to secure a grant to demolish the building, but was unable to do so, in part because of objections from the Maryland Historical Trust.
That shed is still in use by the company, but has agreed to swap the shed for the former VFW property off Dun Swamp Road, which can then be used for storage. It’s located between the town’s solar array and wastewater treatment plant and therefore not a good candidate for development, Ernie Crofoot, city manager/city attorney, said.
The town had been using the former VFW to store Christmas decorations, Crofoot said.
“This isn’t a turnkey property for the fire department. They’ll end up having to upgrade the HVAC and electric. As it stands, it’s unable to be occupied,” Crofoot said.
The VFW property is less than two acres, Crofoot said, and the former firehouse location measures about 1.2 acres.
“We want to have title to everything without a claim from anyone. We already own the land and firehouse. Historically the fire company had an interest in the property,” he said.
Crofoot said there have been similar exchanges between the town and fire company, without consideration, in the past.
Pocomoke City has long been trying to sell the property but has so far been unsuccessful. Last year, a request for proposals on the property drew a single bid for less than $3,000.
Crofoot said by securing all rights to the improved property, the town was far more likely to draw more favorable bids in the future.