WOODSTOCK — One year ago this month, the corner of Central and High streets in Woodstock looked a lot different.
The parcel that borders Route 4 was bustling with patrons enjoying homemade pizza at Pi Brick Oven Trattoria or popping into the offices of the Vermont Standard, the weekly newspaper in Woodstock. A family even returned to the 47-55 Central St. building daily, as that was where they called home.
But all of that changed on July 16 when someone set fire to the building, destroying Pi, ruining the newspaper’s headquarters, displacing a family of two and their dog, and threatening pieces of art at the Collective, an artisans gallery in an attached building.
Now, a grassy lot marks the space where the structure once stood, and questions remain not only about who is responsible for setting the blaze, but what future development — if any — may look like there.
Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. Steve Otis said last week that state officials are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to crack the case. Authorities said in August that someone intentionally set the fire and used accelerants. The fire, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage, is believed to have started in a first-floor office space of the pizza restaurant.
“I can say it is most certainly still an active investigation and is still moving forward,” Otis said. “We have several potential suspects.”
However, no one has been charged. Otis declined further comment.
Although several people wondered how the fire in the heart of downtown could impact Woodstock’s future, Village Trustee Chairman Jeffrey Kahn said downtown, for the most part, has bounced back from what was a dark day on a hot July morning.
Some nearby business owners feared that the ruined structure might become an eyesore for the town, but workers removed the debris and “now, it is a beautiful lawn,” Kahn said of the parcel, which is owned by El-Kam Realty Co., of New York.
There is no talk about what could occupy the Central Street space, Kahn said. No permits have been filed, a lister in town said Tuesday.
If it was the wish of the landlord to not develop it commercially, Kahn said, the space would make a great “mini-park” in the middle of the village, an idea that “a number of people” have thrown around.
“Ideally, I would love to see a building go in, which has rental living units above and retail on the first floor,” Kahn said.
The “worst fire in Woodstock’s modern history” impacted the village in a few ways, including leaving it without a “very popular, moderately priced, eatery,” Kahn said.
“It left a bit of a gap; we have so many wonderful places to eat in Woodstock but that was a very popular, family, moderately priced eatery,” he said of Pi. That gap has since widened with the closing of Bentleys, a nearby restaurant that shuttered in April.
An owner hopes to reopen an eatery in the Bentleys space later this year though, Kahn said.
Marcia Hammond, founder of the Collective at 46 Central St., said the village feels like it has returned to normal from what was a time of stress and unknowns.
The Collective, which showcases artists’ work, sits in an old stone building adjacent to the wooden structure that burned. The gallery suffered some smoke and water damage and was forced to close for about a month and a half, but it reopened and is thriving in the same location, Hammond said.
She and other artists have received comments about the “gorgeous” stone structure, which dates back to the mid-1800s, now that it is fully exposed, and how “peaceful” of a visual the green space is.
“It is just sort of a restful place for your eyes in town,” she said. “I don’t hear too many negatives about it.”
But by the same token, she said, many people comment about how much they miss the pizzeria.
“It was a very sad day,” Hammond said. “(But) now things are quite settled down again.”
Vermont Standard President Phil Camp said via email that “we have done a pretty good job of recovering from the fire.” According to its website, the newspaper is now located at 23 Elm St. in Woodstock.
Woodstock Fire Chief David Green said his agency no longer is involved in the investigation.
Since the fire, several building owners in town have inquired with the Woodstock Fire Department about installing or upgrading their fire protection systems, which can alert the department at the first sign of a fire.
There was no such system in the Central Street building; one wasn’t required, Green said. The call for that fire came in from a passer-by around 3:30 a.m.
“If they had an early notification system, it may have made a difference,” Green said.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4669 or provide a tip at 1-800-32-ARSON.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-2348.