While we were admittedly among those who said it may just be time for the city to hang up the idea of saving the Sphar building on North Main Street, we were excited to hear this week that there may be some hope for the project.

At Monday’s Winchester Board of Commissioners meeting, City Manager Matt Belcher presented an option to the commissioners that might save part of the building and retain a $1 million grant already allotted for the project.

While the city commissioners already voted to demolish the 130-year-old, 27,000 square foot seed warehouse on Main Street, Monday they voted to explore the possibility of a scaled-down project to preserve part of the building.

Belcher told the board it might be possible to preserve about one-third of the building, including part of the walls along North Main and Depot streets, for a welcome center and office space. If that project feasible, and architects believe it is, the $1 million state transportation enhancement grant secured already for the project might cover the full costs.

If further investigation into the project reveals that this grant will cover the cost of the project, that could mean saving one of downtown Winchester historic landmarks and saving the city some money.

According to Belcher, if the project moves forward with demolition, it could cost the city anywhere from $250,000 to $400,000, which would come out of the taxpayers’ pockets, essentially.

While we were sad to see plans for demolition, we understood the city was left with few choices.

It sounds to us like moving forward with this new plan to save at least a portion of the Sphar building is a glimpse of logical hope for the city.