Elton Jacquette, president of the Howard Park Civic Association, said yesterday that he intends to meet next week with representatives from a locally owned grocery chain to discuss opening a store at that location.

"We're open to talks with other interested parties," Jacquette said, noting that he does not know how long the window of opportunity will be open for finding an alternative use for the site. But, he added, "We have much greater hope than before. We're optimistically cautious."

Aides to Mayor Martin O'Malley said yesterday that they asked BP officials to delay their proposed $2 million project to give the community time to campaign for a grocery store. "There was an agreement to wait and explore whether a supermarket could go there," said J. Kirby Fowler Jr., a mayoral aide.

BP officials bought two adjacent parcels on the west side of the block for more than $900,000 this year. Last month, after residents challenged plans to build a 2,900-square-foot station there, BP officials asked the city's zoning board to postpone a hearing on the proposal, saying the company - formerly called British Petroleum and now merged with Amoco - needs more time to work with the community and city.

BP spokesman John C. Curry said yesterday that the Howard Park project has "slowed down considerably" and the company plans to work with the mayor's office and neighbors to reach a resolution.

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