CVP Demolition Plan Changing Following Business Concerns

Plans for demolishing Charles Village Pub, gutted by fire in January, are changing to avoid closing Washington Avenue in Towson on a busy Friday night.

The demolition was originally scheduled to begin 8 p.m. Friday, March 11, and finish overnight.

It would have blocked West Pennsylvania Avenue from York Road to Washington Avenue, a prospect that drew opposition from owners of restaurant and liquor stores that do a lot of business on Fridays.

The hasn't been officially rescheduled, but Baltimore County Councilman David Marks said it should take three days and would likely mean closing the stretch of road in downtown Towson only on a Sunday, not a Friday.

"When we heard there were complaints, we responded and we worked with the Department of Public Works to try to improve the situation," Marks said.

Instead of taking down the front facade with the rest of the building, crews will  begin demolition from behind the building. The front portion will not come down until the third day, likely a Sunday, when many restaurants have reduced  hours or are closed.

West Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed from the Towson Commons garage to Washington Avenue on the third day, but that is the only street closure planned.

The exact time frame hasn't been finalized and will depend on when the fire marshal is available, said Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm positive it's going to work out where it's not going to affect the businesses but I just don't have the details," she said.

On an average Friday night, Towson Wines and Spirits owner Doug Marcus said, the store might bring in several thousand dollars in revenue. , which also happened on a Friday night, he only made a quarter of his usual revenue.

If the street were shut down, Marcus said, "It'll be the same amount of business but with no fire trucks around."

Later Monday, when told of the change in demolition plans by a reporter, Marcus said: "Sunday is fine 'cause I'm closed. That's better news."

Rick Bielski, Charles Village Pub's owner, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday afternoon.

Marks had no input in approving CVP's demolition permit and informed the Towson Chamber of Commerce and community leaders as soon as he heard about it on Friday.

Within a day, he was on the phone with Hafford and business owners on Pennsylvania Avenue to field concerns.