We are thankful for being able to live in safe, healthy housing, and we wish the same for every resident of Baltimore. As 2009 draws to a close (and our 1-year anniversary draws near!) we vow to work even harder in 2010 to rid Baltimore of its blighted homes and we vow to work even harder to make sure our housing laws are enforced.

Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Property address:  1168 Carroll, Baltimore, MD 21230

Property owner:  CAM Property Management, LLC, 1314 S. Carey Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Registered agent for CAM Property Management, LLC:  Dan Frank, 1314 S. Carey Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Baltimore City Council district and contact:  District 9, Agnes Welch

Baltimore City Housing Code Enforcement Attorney:  Seth Greer, seth.greer AT baltimorecity.gov

1168 Carroll Street, rear yard

We’ve proposed that slumlords should be taxed at a higher property tax rate than law-abiding property owners, to offset the costs to the city associated with vacant property. This idea has already been implemented in DC, and we want the idea to be implemented in Baltimore.  Dan Rodricks will be discussing this issue with a panel, and we’d like our readers to tune in.

You can read more about the idea here and here, and you can also sign up to support this idea on a Facebook page created by one of our contributors.

The WYPR segment on the property tax rate increase will be from 1 to 2 PM November 24.

Property address:  1236 W. Cross Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Property owner:  119 Scott Street, LLC, 625 Washington Boulevard, #A, Baltimore, MD 21230

Registered agent for 119 Scott Street, LLC:  Gerald M. Katz, 900 Dulaney Valley Road #400, Towson, MD 21204

City Council District and contact:  District 11, William Cole IV

Baltimore City Housing Code Enforcement Attorney:  Seth Greer, seth.greer AT baltimorecity.gov

1236 W. Cross side view

Property address:  1168 Carroll Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Property owner:  CAM Property Management, LLC, 1314 S. Carey Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Resident agent for CAM Property Management:  Dan Frank, 1314 S. Carey Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Baltimore City Council district and contact:  District 9, Agnes Welch

Baltimore City Housing Code Enforcement Attorney:  Seth Greer, seth.greer AT baltimorecity.gov

Property address:  1121 Ward Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Property owner:  Willie M. Coles, Jr. and Shannelle Morris, 1121 Ward Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Baltimore City Council district and contact:  District 9, Agnes Welch

Baltimore City Housing Code Enforcement Attorney:  Seth Greer, seth.greer AT baltimorecity.gov

This house is in terrible shape, and in danger of collapsing.  Since it’s attached to two other homes, we encourage those property owners to call the city and complain.  The front wall is bowed in the front, and the house needs to be torn down.

Side view of bowed front facade.

Property address:  26 N. Curley Street, Baltimore, MD 21224

Property owner:  Joshua Adam Wodka, 2601 E. Fairmount Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224

Baltimore City Council district and contact:  District 1, Jim Kraft

City Housing Code Enforcement Attorney and contact:  Evan Helfrich, evan.helfrich AT baltimorecity.gov

This house is missing a roof and is boarded on both sides. The previous owner (Jesse Wodka) was taken to court in July 2008, but the case was dismissed after Jesse sold the house to another Wodka family member.  Apparently, Evan Helfrich never refiled a complaint against Joshua Wodka, despite the fact that no work has been done on this property since it was first cited.

Poor blighted SW Baltimore.  You never seem to catch a break, and how can you with drek like this at your gateway?

Property address:  907 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21230

Property owner:  DP South 25, LLC, 1118 Leadenhall Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Registered agent for DP South 25, LLC:  Dangela Little, 1118 Leadenhall Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.  Corporation is not in good standing, charter has been forfeited.

Baltimore City Council district and contact:  District 11, William Cole

City Housing Code Enforcement Attorney and contact:  Seth Greer, seth.greer AT baltimorecity.gov

According to the Richmond Slumlord Watch blog, via the Richmond Times-Dispatch, one of Richmond, Virginia’s slumlords has been ordered to spend 30 days in jail and then move into one of his vacant properties:

Convicted slumlord Oliver C. Lawrence will split his 70 days of incarceration between the Richmond City Jail and a vacant house he owns on North 19th Street in Richmond.

General District Judge Phillip L. Hairston today modified the terms of Lawrence’s sentence, partially granting his attorneys’ request that he be allowed to serve home incarceration.

The city attorney’s office supported the idea on the condition that Lawrence, owner of Bayou Properties, be required stay at one of the city vacant properties that he owns, rather than at his $1 million house in Ashland.

Based on the judge’s order, Lawrence will serve 30 days in the city jail and then 40 days at the home on North 19th. Lawrence is scheduled to report to jail tomorrow following last month’s sentencing, which included new and previously suspended fines of more than $177,000 for more than 180 convictions on property-maintenance violations.

Lawrence also will be assigned to the jail’s inmate work crew that cleans up blighted properties.

At Baltimore Slumlord Watch, we think this is a fantastic idea, especially when you consider the number of slumlords in Baltimore who enter the revolving doors of housing court, seemingly unscathed.  Baltimore City leaders, are you listening?  Other cities are making a difference, why aren’t you?

You probably remember the sad tale of poor Phoenix, the pit bull that suffered 3rd degree burns at the hands of two Baltimore teens.  What you may not know is that the two boys, twin brothers Tremayne and Travers Johnson, housed their pit bulls in a vacant West Baltimore rowhome:  1616 N. Gilmor Street (Baltimore City Council District 7).  The house is owned by Olivia Anderson of the same address.

The incident with Phoenix further illustrates the need for the city to clean up its act with regard to vacant property.  According to ASA Jennifer Rallo, the police found signs of dogs and gang activity at the Gilmor Street house –  another result of Broken Window Syndrome.  Hopefully this case will not only serve as a warning to those who abuse animals, it will serve as a warning to the city.  Allowing homes to remain vacant and unsecured is simply another link in the chain of criminal behavior that keeps Baltimore City in its third-class city status.  If we are to ever become a first-rate city, we have to tackle the problem of housing, with sustainable and well thought-out methods.