Old BB&T Building to Get New Windows

Though there may not be any tenants inside to appreciate the view, the former BB&T building on 3305 Hamilton Street will be getting a new set of windows. 

Last week, the Hyattsville City Council approved a measure authorizing city officials to spend up to $200,000 to install new windows on the building. 

The project is funded entirely from a grant from the Maryland Board of Public Works for municipal infrastructure upgrades at the building. 

According to Jim Chandler, director of Hyattsville's Department of Community and Economic Development, the city has had the money on hand for the project for almost two years. But without an agreed upon future for the building, the money sat while city officials looked into how it could be used. 

"The issue is, there is no definitive on what we are doing with the building," said Chandler in an interview during last week's city council meeting. "The only thing you can do that doesn't affect the programming in the building is the windows."

In the time it took city officials to settle on a use for the money, Hyattsville was brushing up against a June 1, 2012 deadline to spend the money. 

"We have to pass this tonight, or we will lose the money," said Mayor Marc Tartaro during discussion of the project. 

Chandler said that among the other options considered for the building were renovations of the restrooms, but that idea was discarded because future uses for the building could require that the restrooms be moved.

Long term proposals floated before council have called for the building to be turned into a new headquarters for city police. 

Councilor Paula Perry (Ward 4), who opposes plans to renovate the building for city purposes, said she was in favor of adding windows to the BB&T building.

"Do I think we should carry on and do a lot more repairs?" Asked Perry, rhetorically. "I am not in favor of the city spending that kind of money on that building, but I am in for the windows being replaced, because it is a necessity."