Reader-Submitted Blight: 211 W Lanvale Street
4March 9, 2013 by Baltimore Slumlord Watch
Update 3/14/2013:
Neighbors report a sudden flurry of activity and work going on at this address, since our last post.
Update:
From the owner of the property (edited to remove unpleasant remarks):
My name is Jim MacLaughlin and I am the managing partner of Three Cowboys Holding Co, LLC and American Management. We have a stellar reputation in Baltimore City and should not be included in your site.
This building is currently being renovated to restore it as 8 apartment units. It was first converted to apartments sometime in the mid 1800′s.
We purchased the building on 11/18/2011. After a lengthy and tedious 14 month permitting process (common when working in a National Historic District) we received our exterior building permit on 1/15/2013. We have been working in the building since our initial permit for interior work was issued on 7/6/2012. We have already invested well over $100,000 in repairs to the building and we are only 1/4 complete.
Our permit numbers are: COM2012-09896 Interior Work, issued 7/6/2012; COM2012-22721 Exterior CHAP Work, issued 1/15/2013.
We submitted a permit application for the front windows and CHAP is still researching their decision. Until such time we can not touch the broken front windows in your photograph. COM2012-07358 Front Windows.
As you can see, we are behaving in a professional manner to renovate this building.
I will be happy to share updates on the progress in the building to anyone who is interested. Feel free to pass it along to “Reader K” and encourage he or she to contact me at 410 366 2100 if he/she has any interest in positive communication and working towards ‘progress’ in his/her community.
Respectfully,
Jim MacLaughlin
Thanks to Reader K for the photo and some background info!
Property Address: 211 W Lanvale Street, Baltimore, MD 21217
Property Owner: Three Cowboys Holding Co., LLC, 2903 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
Resident Agent for Three Cowboys Holding Co., LLC: William Ralston, 216 Schilling Circle, Suite 100, Hunt Valley, MD 21031
City Council District and Contact: District 11, William Cole
State Senator: Catherine Pugh
State Delegates: Barbara Robinson, Shawn Tarrant, Frank Conaway, Jr.
211 W Lanvale Street
It’s interesting to note, the address of the LLC ties back to businesses controlled by Greg Kamenetz — brother of Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Greg Kamenetz is the owner and resident agent of American Realty, LLC and American Management, LLC. He was also a Bolton Hill resident.
Reader K states that the home, while not in the same condition of many properties featured on this blog, has been vacant for “many years” and is missing some windowpanes. Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into a case of Broken Window Syndrome…Bolton Hill-style.
The home was once owned by a prominent Baltimore physician, Dr. James D. Iglehart. Dr. Iglehart was married to Monterey Watson, the daughter of Col. William Watson, who died in the 1846 Battle of Monterrey, during the Mexican-American War. A statue bearing the likeness of Colonel Watson stands today in Reservoir Hill.
One of the owners is a Bolton Hill resident. The property was acquired last year. There is a CHAP approved permit for the major renovation currently underway. Patience would be appreciated.
I have addressed both your email, and Jim McLaughlin’s concerns via email. You may want to let Mr. McLaughlin know that I did not appreciate his aggressive tone, nor will I remove the post. However, I will amend it to include the information that he sent.
My advice, as I stated in the email, is you need to talk to your neighbors about this. If they were able to get any resolution earlier, they wouldn’t have come to me about this. They’re tired of calling 311 about your property, and I’m not about to get into the middle of a neighborhood fight — no matter how polite the neighbors might be.
Your edit seems like the email he SHOULD have sent. Why the hostile tone and offensive remarks? How does that help him appear to be “behaving in a professional manner”?
If neighbors have already called 311 about this property, then its fair game for the slumlord blog!
Yes apparently the neighbors have indeed called 311, and showed up to housing court a couple of times as well. Not sure why this property (and its owners) should be treated differently than any other — it’s a little bizarre.