Maryland Gas Station on Empty
By Jeesoo Park | Online Only | April 28, 2008
Even if the city of Mt. Rainier steps in to buy the 1934 station, it may be too late to save the deteriorating structure.
Credit: Mount Rainier City Council
A gas station in Mount Rainier, Md., deteriorating and for sale, could be torn down.
Currently owned by Arrow Car & Truck Leasing, the brick Sinclair Gasoline Service Station was built in 1934 and served as a service station until Thrifty Car Rental took over the property in 1973.
The structure isn't in prime condition, causing much debate over whether the station should be restored or demolished. Bryan Knedler, city councilman, says, "What has happened over the years is that the giant Thrifty Rental trucks have struck the overhang on the gas station so many times that it's actually now destabilized. Now they've got temporary metal pillars holding it up."
Larry Solomon of Arrow Car & Truck Leasing, who did not return calls, wanted to tear the station down in 2003 because it was structurally dangerous. The city disapproved but could not prevent Solomon from demolition because the gas station is not technically a historical landmark. Nevertheless, the city council still managed to convince Solomon to hold off on the decision. Now that the site is slated for redevelopment, the city of Mt. Rainier and its redevelopment partner are trying to purchase the property,
"If we can purchase the property, then we're hoping we can have it restored, but it might be too far gone - an engineer would have to come look at it," Knedler says.
No one knows if the service station is salvageable at this point, but Knedler says the city is exploring restoration options because of extremely high demolition costs.
In March, Preservation Maryland named the Sinclair Gasoline Service Station one of the "2008 'Endangered Maryland' Sites."
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