What should an abandoned apple butter warehouse become in its next life?

Sykesville officials want to tap residents for ideas on how to revitalize a 9.5-acre property south of the Patapsco River in Howard County.

“That property is really a gateway into the town, and people drive right past it all the time,” Town Manager Matthew Candland said.

Sykesville was ready to improve the warehouse and prevent further deterioration, said John Byrd, Howard County bureau chief of parks and program service.

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Howard County has agreed to chip in $100,000 toward planning and renovation, but some constraints exist for developing the property, including its industrial zoning and partial location in a floodplain.

“Howard County wants to be a partner,” Candland said. “This is a relatively small project for [Howard officials], and they are busy with other stuff.”

The historic brick warehouse, built at the turn of the last century, once stored fruit for an apple butter company but was left abandoned for more than a decade.

From a proposed business park to a museum, residents can share their vision of the warehouse’s reincarnation at an all-day charrette Saturday, according to the town’s Web site.

Four months ago, Sykesville entered into a $1 lease for 35 years with Howard County for the property, which will remain in Howard as the town does not plan to annex the land.

Destination Sykesville, an ad hoc committee Mayor Jonathan Herman founded to foster foot traffic downtown and encourage business growth, spearheaded the project.

“This is a natural fit for the town because of our proximity,” Candland said. “We can watch it, so it’s win-win.”

Examiner Staff Writer Megan McIlroy contributed to this report.

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com