Main Street in Historic Ellicott City is officially open again.
It's been a little over two months since flash flooding devastated the downtown and killed two people. While the road blocks are now clear, a number of restaurants and stores are still closed for business.
ABC2 News checked in with a few residents and businesses to hear about their experiences throughout the rebuilding process.
RELATED: Main Street in Ellicott City to reopen
When ABC2 first met Chip Spencer two months ago, he was in line with other Main Street residents anxiously awaiting his turn to be brought down to his home. What he didn't know was that a few hours later the county would announce their plans to tear down the building he lived in.
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“It just ripped my heart out. It's still hard to think about,” Spencer said.
Fortunately, engineers were able to figure out a way to preserve the two buildings, but Spencer wasn’t able to access his apartment until last Saturday. That’s when he was able finally survey the damage and take stock of some of his most valued belongings.
“This was my grandparents',” Spencer said about an antique piece of furniture. “And it's one of the pieces I really didn't want to lose.”
It's still going to be awhile before Spencer can return home. Construction is expected to take another year. While he waits for the day he can move back in, a few doors up the street, Craig Coyne Jewelers prepares for their permanent exit.
Final stretch of Main St. in #EllicottCity re-opening at 5. Traffic lights will activate/pedestrians & cars will be allowed down @ABC2NEWS pic.twitter.com/g4xXZoQD1Q
— Mallory Sofastaii (@MalloryABC2) October 6, 2016
“We were one of the first businesses to announce publicly that we had no intentions to come back to town,” said Sam Coyne, owner of Craig Coyne Jewelers.
Security camera footage showed the destruction caused by the flooding. Coyne said it was just too much damage and not enough county assistance that influenced him to move his business of 16 years to another location.
“Someone has to be the last in line and unfortunately it was us in every situation,” Coyne said. “I wasn't given access to my building, I couldn't even get the structural engineer from my insurance company here with approval for 45 days.”
He, along with others, suffered a serious hit to their incomes. While the foot traffic that comes with the re-opening of Main Street is expected to spur future business, the current state of the once bustling downtown still resembles a construction zone.
“It's like a ghost town. A couple of my neighbors have moved back in, but it's just a ghost town down here. It's surreal to be down here,” Spencer said.
Among the businesses that are now open in the Ellicott City Main Street include: The Wine Bin, Judge's Bench, Envy Salon, Hi Ho Silver, Antique Depot, Ooh La La Salon, Su Casa, Mat About You, State Farm Insurance/Fred Gossage, RUCK Law Firm, PCF Management, CentreTek, Waverly Real Estate, Rethink Brands, Robert H. Vogel Engineering, Classic Interiors, Pure Wine Café, Catalyst Communication, Real Estate Auditing, Dr. Bowman DDS, Matcha Time Café, River House Pizza Company, Little French Market (catering), Alexander Design Studio, Pam Long Photography, Park Ridge Trading Co. and Bear Fox Babe.
More than 450 parking spaces are available in the historic district in all county lots except for Lot “B” which is located next to the Patapsco River. Access to Lot “D” will continue to be from Roussey Lane off of Old Columbia Pike. Additional spaces are available in the Howard County Circuit Court parking lot. Parking along Main Street remains prohibited.
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