713 E. Biddle Street

Property Address:  713 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Property Owner:  Mayor and City Council, 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

City Council District and Contact: 12th District, Jack Young

418 Federal Street

Property address:  418 Federal Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Property owner:  Vernon Alt, 159 Clyde Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21227

City Council District and contact:  12th District, Jack Young

Interesting to note, this property was part of a ground rent lawsuit brought against Mr. Alt by Fred Nochumowitz, one of the people featured in the Baltimore Sun’s ground rent series, and in our follow-up to the ground rent series.

Apparently neither Mr. Alt or Mr. Nochumowitz are interested in the property, as evidenced by its current blighted state.

418 Federal Street, rear

417 Pitman Place

Property address:  417 Pitman Place, Baltimore, MD 21202

Property owner:  Mayor and City Council, 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

City Council District and Contact Info:  12th District, Jack Young

Another blighted property in East Baltimore, this one is on a block where people live.  A small alley street not far from Penn Station, this little neighborhood has such potential.  It’s a shame to see that the city owns this house, as we have little hope that anything good can come of that, given the city’s track record on vacant property thus far. We have to wonder what Jack Young plans to do for his constituents, and why slumlords operating in his district have come away with mere slaps on the wrist — if they’ve received any punishment at all.  Don’t the residents of District 12 deserve better than that?  We think so.

Front of 417 Pitman in East Baltimore

Rear of 417 Pitman Place

More Blighted Blocks in East Baltimore

Property Address:  1504 through 1528 Brentwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202 and 404 through 422 E. Oliver Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Property Owner:  Station Place, LLC, 701 McCulloh Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Registered Owner for Station Place, LLC:  Raj Sehgal, 701 McCulloh Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

City Council District and Contact:  12th District, Jack Young

Described by one former resident as “the middle of hell, and not as nice as that”, these two blocks are among the worst we’ve ever seen.  Rows of homes, completely abandoned, left to deteriorate for years.  Again, it’s hard to look at when you consider the number of people who need affordable safe housing in Baltimore City — and here’s another property owner who seems to think it’s okay to let an entire neighborhood deteriorate past the point of no return.  Given the name of the owner’s LLC, we’re assuming he thought he could cash in on the “Station North” neighborhood, but instead he’s let his properties turn into a blighted wasteland.

1504-1528 Brentwood Avenue

406 to 422 E. Oliver Street

A Sea of Blight: Biddle & Barclay Streets, East Baltimore

There were too many houses to photograph individually, so we’ve provided you with a couple of views.  Most of the homes we saw today were abandoned — at least 90-95% of them. This part of Baltimore is steps away from Mt. Vernon and steps away from the Baltimore City Jail — an odd DMZ in the middle.  The fact that most of the abandoned homes are owned by the Housing Authority, and the Mayor and City Council, was a little disappointing.  Yet again, this is city-owned property that could serve a purpose, but instead it’s a blighted eyesore.

317 and 319-402 E. Biddle Street, and part of the 400 Block, Baltimore MD 21202

1100 Block, Barclay Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Property Owners:  Some are owned by the Mayor and City Council, 417 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.  Some are owned by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, same address.

City Council District and Contact: 12th District, Jack Young

1105-1111 Barclay Street

Even side of Barclay Street

Section of the 300 block East Biddle Street