There's not much left of the former Light House Shelter building on West Street in Annapolis. It's a startling sight if you only drive or walk by infrequently. Two brick walls and several gaping windows appear to be all that remains of the old Victorian structure.

According to Elizabeth Kinney, Light House executive director, it's part of a $2.3 million plan to renovate the building into a restaurant and take-out spot that provides training for homeless men and women.

Several local businesses and individuals have generously stepped forward to offer their products or services at either reduced rates or pro bono. Kinney is expecting the project to reach its goal of 10 percent of the costs being donated in kind, approximately $230,000.

Baltimore-based Cho Benn Holback and Associates, which designed the new Light House Shelter, has donated all its pre-design and concept drawing work. The civil engineering firm Drum Loyka donated some of its services, too.

“We're keeping the original brick walls in front,” Kinney said. “The back of the building was an add-on with concrete block walls.”

The worn window frames were removed from both floors. Next door neighbor TW Perry, a building products supply company, is donating new wood frame windows for the downstairs areas, and vinyl frame windows for the four housing units for the homeless slated for the second floor, a value of approximately $18,000.

“We're absolutely thrilled,” Kinney said. “It's a great community contribution.”

The building's small basement was excavated and enlarged to provide office and training space for BEST (Building Employment Success Training) Catering and tap lines to the beverage service at the bar of the Light House Bistro, a 50-seat restaurant. The main floor will have two entrances: one to the bistro, a second entrance to a coffee bar and take-out counter.

Ceremony Coffee, founded by Vince Iatesta, is providing coffee service equipment at cost and will train the coffee baristas.

His brother, furniture designer David Iatesta, is coordinating the interior design with Kinney. The youngest brother, Chris Iatesta, is the photographer documenting the project. David and Chris Iatesta are donating their respective services.

More than two decades ago, during the winter of 1988-1989, when St. Anne's Episcopal Church housed several homeless people in its narthex, it removed a long pew to provide space. The antique wooden pew was stored in Kinney's house. David Iatesta is refinishing it to serve as banquette bench seating in the restaurant.

The floor joists from the second floor were salvaged by Joe Brown of Brown Contracting. He milled them down to be re-used on the walls of the restaurant and take-out area. Bricks are also being reclaimed to be used in the two areas.

Brown Contracting submitted the low bid on the project and has offered to hire Light House Facilities Maintenance trainees for all of the day labor on the project.

The training kitchen is being designed by Next Step Design. Its owner, Russell Stillwell, is doing the work for free.

Ken and Laura Gill of Tri-Mark/Gill, a food service equipment and marketing firm, have procured the kitchen equipment and appliances at below cost.

Kinney said the graduates of the four-month BEST program will be eligible to apply for employment at the Light House Bistro. There will be 25 jobs available when it opens, planned for this summer. There will be a total of 50 jobs the first year of operation. BEST graduates will be offered six-month transitional employment.

“Graduates of BEST who then work at the Bistro will be well-trained and certified to work in the best kitchens in the country,” Kinney said. She noted that 10 local chefs have already committed to train the graduates at the Light House Bistro.

“I'm so happy all these people are willing to get involved,” Kinney said. “Any revenue stream from the restaurant, coffee bar and take-out will be poured back into the Light House Shelter and its training programs.”

The Light House Bistro will be the second food service operation in the area utilizing BEST graduates. BEST Catering recently opened a cafe at Maryland Hall.

wwinters@capgaznews.com