ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Work is underway to rebuild the Annapolis Yacht Club, which was destroyed by a fire in 2015.
The renovated building will include an extra 650 square feet of space and a sprinkler system, said Sally Nash, chief of comprehensive planning for the city of Annapolis.
The wooden building was originally constructed in the 1970s and did not have a sprinkler system, which fire officials said would have helped reduced the extent of the damage.
“We’re very excited that they’ve started the reconstruction,” Nash said.
Repairs were also needed to shore up the structural supports of the building — that work was completed earlier this year, said Rhonda Wardlaw, city spokeswoman.
The club had initially considered relocating or even razing the damaged structure.
The club has been operating out of a former restaurant on Dock Street while the structure at the corner of Compromise and Duke of Gloucester Streets gets rebuilt.
The Capital Gazette reported that the renovated building will feature an all-glass facade and the work is expected to continue into next summer.
A pre-light Christmas tree malfunctioned, sparking the blaze that caused $9 million in damage.
WTOP’s Amanda Iacone contributed to this report from Washington.
