The historic Maples Inn on Oenoke Ridge Road collapsed Wednesday while it was being renovated and converted into luxury apartments. Tom Kennedy, one of the building's owners, said it appeared the cave-in was triggered by heavy winds, though he was not on the scene when the collapse occurred. He said no one was hurt.
Paul Bernor of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the cause was under investigation.
Kennedy and co-owner Andy Glazer started renovating the old hotel in the spring. Kennedy had owned the site for several years, running it as a bed and breakfast before deciding to convert it into luxury housing for seniors.
Workers had tried to preserve the integrity of the old building by reusing much of the original wood and adding new wood where necessary to stabilize the structure. "Unfortunately, during the process [of reconstruction], the wind came and just knocked it down and blew it over," Kennedy said. "The wind shifted it and just pushed the whole house in and onto itself."
Several people who learned of the collapse from friends and local media stopped by to check out the damage. Lia DeNey, who attends nearby St. Mark's Church, was shocked to see the caved-in building while walking with a friend on Oenoke Ridge.
"It's terrible," said DeNey, who was a guest at the inn nine years ago while her home was being built. "It's sad. It's a devastating loss."
Kennedy said he and Glazer will likely continue with their luxury apartment plans but will have to start over after they clear the felled wood from the site.
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