Afton Inn demo – not so fast – MODE re-exploring renovation options

Many people in this community have great interest in the fate of the long dormant Afton Inn – and from a variety of angles from “Please save it, it is an important part of our history” to “Please tear it down, it is a long-festering eyesore and blight on our downtown business district.”

Regardless of the perspective, most seem to believe the fate of the 149-year-old building was sealed with the Front Royal Town Council’s September 25 reversal of its Board of Architectural Review’s September 12 rejection of the EDA application to demolish the building to make way for redevelopment at the site.

After Royal Examiner received a number of inquiries about a timeframe for Afton demolition we decided to get a progress report from the owner of the property, the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, acting on behalf of the Town of Front Royal.  And guess what, the information we got from EDA Executive Director Jennifer McDonald wasn’t exactly what we expected – as in re-development group MODE Partnership is conducting a feasibility study that includes the potential for renovation of the existing external structure.

“MODE has until November 15^th to complete their feasibility study.  They are exploring all options including historic tax credits to renovate the property compared to the cost of demolition,” McDonald told us, adding, “They have a meeting on October 31^st with the State to discuss the tax credits and then we will meet after that to find out which way they will go with the property.  Either way, with or without tax credits, MODE Development will be the developer of the site.”

Twilight of the Afton Inn? MODE Development Partnership is exploring the availability of state historic tax credits to bring renovation costs down. An answer on restore or demolish and rebuild should be forthcoming not long after Nov. 15 submission of feasibility study. Photos/Roger Bianchini

McDonald noted that MODE, a recent partnership of GN Contracting of Falls Church (est. 1983, principal Gabriel Nasser) and Berryville-based Carter-Burton Architectural (est. 1992), had contracted a consultant with a historical preservation background to help develop their feasibility study.  McDonald said she believed that consultant was Maral Kalbain.  An online search found Maral S. Kalbain identified as a Berryville-based Historical Preservation Consultant on contract to the Clarke County government.  An attempt to reach Ms. Kalbain for confirmation prior to publication was unsuccessful.

MODE’s initial proposal for the demo-reconstruction project submitted to the EDA estimated additional costs of $400,000 to $600,000 to preserve the crumbling brick exterior of the building completed and opened as the Montview Hotel in 1868.  In a release announcing the project after the EDA Board of Directors endorsed the MODE plan on July 28 it was observed, “The estimated cost to MODE for rebuilding the former Afton Inn will be $2.1 million … After consulting with many developers across the region, it was decided that due to the condition of the remaining shell of the Afton Inn, renovation is not a financially sound option.”

It appears one last shot at making it financially feasible with the help of state historic tax credits is underway.

Above, MODE artist’s rendering of a rebuilt Afton Inn; below an Afton Inn photo, circa 1940 or so.

Of the already applied for permit to demolish, McDonald said, “We applied for the permit to be ahead of the game and ready to demo once the study period was over – they just have to determine if demo is still the way they are headed.”

And if “the way they are headed” is yet to be finally determined, McDonald said what is determined is that the EDA will “maintain control over all aspects until the finished product is delivered.  We are not willing to hand over the premier corner of this town until the promise has been completed.”

And one thing the EDA is promising is that the project will not be abandoned mid-stream, leaving a vacant lot to add parking space at the head of Front Royal’s downtown business and historic districts. See related story