Town of Washington to consider developer’s plans to restore it
After years of uncertainty surrounding the fate of the old apple packing shed on Porter Street in the Town of Washington, the run-down property has been sold to Jim Abdo who plans to demolish decaying parts of the structure and revitalize the block where he also owns another property.
Abdo–a D.C-based developer and longtime Rappahannock resident–said he wanted to expand the footprint of his existing property, a former museum, located at Main and Porter streets. The packing shed’s “serious decay” was another motivator for the purchase, and Abdo said he plans to restore the entire block.
“In working on the smaller building that’s on the site, we’d like to be able to see the larger building improved as well,” Abdo said in an interview.
The application includes the proposed removal of a decaying single fence panel in the rear of the building, rear addition, rear porch addition and loading dock.
An application was submitted May 3 to the town’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) by Gordon Buist, who is chief operating officer and partner of Abdo Development. He also represents AB Porter Street LLC as a co-managing partner.
Abdo Development, a large D.C.-based company headed by Abdo, owns several properties in Rappahannock County, including the White Moose Inn down the street from the packing shed, and the adjacent old museum building.
The application also notes that the original barn structure will be restored rather than demolished and “prominently displayed,” and the “cottage retail additions” at the corner of Porter and Gay Streets will not be demolished. The proposed use is “to be determined,” according to the application, but Abdo has a few ideas, one being conference space, hoping to draw traffic to the town during the work week in the form of corporate retreats.
“We could try to generate business, not just locked into weekends…where we can work together to fill [inn] rooms, increase the town’s revenue during the week, and allow for corporate retreats to take place,” Abdo said. “I’m certainly very open to almost any and all ideas that make sense for the community.”
Zoning Administrator Steve Gyurisin said the application will be heard at the board’s next meeting on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m..
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