Walking downtown yesterday, camera in hand, I was struck by the lack of architectural character, and the lack of people (more about that later). Moving further along Howard Street, I was awestruck by the beautiful buildings — oh here’s where they’ve been keeping the good stuff — and then a sinking feeling hit me. I was on the outskirts of Baltimore’s development black hole.
Much has been made of the City’s plans for Baltimore’s “Superblock” area, with grandiose plans for large box stores and shiny new office buildings. (And yes, sadly — probably some overpriced condos as well.) If you walk up Howard to the 300 and 400 blocks, towards Mt. Vernon, you’re struck by the beauty of the buildings — and the few businesses that remain. Wig stores, a clothing store, carryouts..Planned Parenthood, and an abandoned theater that should cause the City’s government nothing but shame. The vast majority of the buildings have been long-abandoned, flipped, condemned, sold by the City, and abandoned again.
Howard Street ruin
What a wonderful neighborhood this would be for artists and musicians — close to the light rail, close to downtown and MICA, and tons of empty buildings begging for repair. Instead, the neighborhood is being held hostage by the City and developers who don’t give a damn. It makes you wonder if this demolition-by-neglect is being done on purpose.
Some of the buildings along Howard are viable, and should be preserved — some, unfortunately, have been allowed to rot to the point where they’re probably structurally unsound, and will need to be destroyed. It would be nice, however, to see the City start to think creatively about its downtown, and stop with the “box store and condo” development model. Workforce housing, artist housing, housing for real people who pay taxes and want to stay in Baltimore long-term — that’s what Baltimore needs. That’s what Howard Street could become. That’s what we should demand.
January 8th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Just as H St NE, U St, NW and other hard hit areas in DC have been revitalized, Baltimore can do it too-it just takes a willingness to collaborate with all stakeholders (including residents!) to make it happen.
January 11th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Absolutely. Doing things on the sly with nonprofits and developers is no way to redevelop a city. Taxpayers, especially when you have so few, deserve to have a stake in what happens.
January 12th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Is that the Town Theatre? Everyman is taking over that one, at least. It is the big marble-y one at W Fayette and Howard/Eutaw Sts.
January 17th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
No it’s the Mayfair…and it’s way beyond repair. :(
January 19th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Now it’s a Baltimore City Historical Landmark for being the oldest and longest standing surviving theatre ever since the 1880′s as being Baltimore’s oldest theatre especially being the first operating theatre In Baltimore.
January 19th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
The roof is gone, and it’s a total mess. What a shame!
January 17th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
[...] Howard Street remains blighted and vacant — businesses and residents moved out years ago, yet the City would rather hand the buildings over to out of town developers and others who won’t do anything with them. Why can’t these buildings be made available to artists and small businesses owners who are looking for live/work properties? It would improve the neighborhood, and generate tax revenue. [...]
February 11th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I just did the same yesterday, and found your post today. I’ve always loved Howard Street for how I imagined it used to be. My family grew up around here, and while I am too young to know this, it used to be the shopping destination of the city and surrounding suburbs. My great grandmother worked in the department stores, my family to this day still goes to Lexington Market every new years day. But it’s not what it used to be and it’s hard to think it ever will be. It has so much potential, but little is being done, outside of the mentioned “superblock” and high end condos. What about the vacant buildings!? The streets were dead except for the intersections around the Lexington Market and University Center Light Rail stops. I don’t know how it will change, but it has to, and I’d love to be a part of that!
February 11th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I’d love to be a part of that, too — can you imagine what a great area downtown would be if the city officials would stop with the overpriced condos and start thinking of regular taxpayers?