Standards & Guidelines Humor

Here's some Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation humor for those of you out there who care about such things and the few of you who have managed to get through even one of those things! Haven't checked out the blog yet, but there sure are many of them...and they all look like preservebaltimore...

Size Matters

Size apparently matters when it comes to historic preservation in Baltimore. Not the size of the historic building in question or the magnitude of its significance, but the size of the institution that owns it and wants to tear it down. If any preservationist out there doubts the importance of money and influence in the preservation process, he or she needs only to look at the growing list of cases in which influence has trumped everything else:

2004

• Kennedy Krieger Institute demolishes the 1876 Broadway School, an individually listed building on the National Register of Historic Places
• University of Baltimore demolishes the 1916 Monumental Motor Car Company (Odorite) Building, a contributing building in a Baltimore City Historic District

2005

• The Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore applies for demolition permit for 1905 Rochambeau Apartments, a contributing building in a National Register Historic District and a City Special District
• The University of Maryland Medical Systems announces its intention to demolish the 1893 Turner-White Building, an individually listed building on the National Register of Historic Places
• Mercy Medical Center announces intention to demolish 1820s 300 Block St. Paul Place, a City Notable Property

So, I guess all those historic preservation ordinances and restrictions are for the rest of us, since the city seems only to be bending over for the big guys.

Many thanks to old warrior for the stats.

That Baltimore Cocoon

Break out of that Baltimore preservation cocoon for just a minute and visit eCulturalResources.com, the [revamped] go-to site for job postings, headlines, and other preservation and cultural resource miscellany.

If you're interested in reading up on Baltimore's place in our nation's urban renewal heritage, get yourself a copy of the Winter 2006 issue of CRM: The Journal of Heritage Stewardship, which also includes a report on Mount Vernon Place. Published by the National Park Service, the biannual journal is free and chock full of interesting articles, interviews, and other things relating to heritage writ large. Email NPS_CRMJournal@nps.gov to subscribe.

And three cheers for Magic Johnson and his latest investment in Baltimore's urban neighborhoods (I'm talking about his partnership with Streuver Bros. on the 1209 North Charles project in Mount Vernon mentioned in today's paper)!

Times They Are A-Changin'

Wow. Baltimore discovers the Internet in 2006, and things are never the same again. As Edna Turnblad said what Bob Dylan said, "The times they are a-changin.'" Two new arrivals to the Baltimore-Internet-architecture-history-preservation-advocacy scene worth bookmarking:

The Baltimore Architecture Project: A collaborative initiative to bring together information on Baltimore's built environment in one place; and

Baltimore City Community Coalition (BC3): Bringing an effective political voice to diverse communities of Baltimore.

Patronize both of them early and often, but always after preservebaltimore.

School's Out Forever

In 1972, Alice Cooper rocked our world with the lyrics from his hit song, School's Out:

School's out for summer
School's out forever
School's been blown to pieces

Boy, if ever there was a theme song for the Baltimore City school system right now, this is it. Now that Baltimore is going to have a surplus of old school buildings on its hands, preservationists might want to read up on strategies and efforts made elsewhere to save some of those historic piles from the wrecking ball. Start by boning up on what the National Trust has been doing to address this nationwide crisis. And lose the white snake.

Bankers' Hours!

Rumour has it that CHAP is thinking about moving its monthy hearings from the evenings to either the mornings or the afternoons. It's nice to know that their needs are being met. Screw the rest of us.

If you have something you'd like to say about this latest proposal, feel free to send your comments to Brad, and he'll post 'em. Anonymously, of course.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

If you are here for the first time because you just received the latest issue of the Baltimore Heritage newsletter in the mail, and you want to read the latest news on the trenchant issues facing our fair city, feel free to go directly to Save Saint Paul, Save the Rochambeau, or somewhere else. If you're not that focused, tired of the never-ending preservation battles, or just don't really care anymore, feel free to stay here and salute rodeoclown mom on her birthday by reading this post. Sorry, but there's no more cake.

Today we are taking a break from the exciting world of historic preservation to salute rodeoclown mom on her nth birthday!

We sure didn't have much growing up, but we had each other. Though, when you're running from the law like we were, you didn't want too much because it slowed you down. Thanks, rodeoclown mom, for being, well, such a good mom. Now, on to some seldom seen photos of the rodeoclown family in action!

Here we are hiding out in a cabin without any indoor plumbing somewhere deep in the woods in Pennsylvania. Even though we had prices on our heads, rodeoclown mom made sure we had our footie pajamas and a bedtime snack, even if it was a blanket:


Here's rodeoclown mom with some of our outlaw relatives and friends. Looking back now, our blue Impala getaway car was kinda cool, but the earlier red Corvair convertible would have been much cooler:


Here we are getting ready to head across the river just minutes ahead of the county sheriff (rodeoclown mom is calling the rest of the gang to get in line for the crossing):


Here we are after my first (abortive) attempt to cross the river without adult supervision (judging from rodeoclown mom's body language, she wasn't very happy at this point):


Of course, we have plenty more to show, but we've been so lucky for so long--being on the run and all--that I don't dare blow a family tradition now. Enjoy your special day, mom!

Oh Sheila

Back in 1987, the R&B group Ready for the World released its first album featuring the hit single "Oh Sheila." By 1990, they had faded into oblivion.

Boy, City Council could use that upbeat tune now. They could also stand to fade from the media spotlight, too, since most of what gets reported these days has to do with ethics violations and other poor choices.

Which is why the following 2/10/2006 letter to City Council President Sheila Dixon regarding building heights in Mount Vernon is so timely. Hmmm? Support Baltimore residents, voters, and taxpayers, or a developer who can't cast a vote in local elections because he doesn't live in Baltimore? This City Counciling stuff is real hard work!

"We the undersigned representatives of Baltimore’s premier historic communities are here today because the outcome of the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Plan will set precedent for how the city deals with its increasingly valuable inventory of historic architecture. We believe the historic architecture and pedestrian scale of our communities are a key factor in the attractiveness and revitalization of Baltimore. We must be careful stewards of this irreplaceable resource and are especially alarmed at the proposal to remove height limits from the proposed legislation. We ask that you recognize the following points made by the Mt. Vernon-Belvedere Association.

1. Legislated height restrictions beyond underlying zoning are common and national standard, especially for historic districts. Techniques include Urban Renewal Plans, Special Zoning Districts, and Conservation Districts.

2. Preservation commission guidelines for new construction do not have the force of law and depend on subjective determination of context and scale on a case-by-case basis. Development uncertainty is created to the extent legislated height allowances exceed that which could reasonably be expected to be allowed by the preservation commission under context and scale guidelines.

While the Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP's) review of new construction in Mt. Vernon will offer some protection for the historic scale of the neighborhood, limiting building height to appropriate levels through the renewal plan will strengthen, streamline, and bring enhanced predictability to the design review process – Rodney Little, Director, Maryland Historical Trust

3. Those historic communities that do not and will not have CHAP designation would have no protections from the proposed approach of eliminating height limits.

4. Much of the developable property is Mount Vernon and many other CHAP districts is not subject to CHAP. The state of Maryland is exempt from CHAP oversight as demonstrated in the demolition of the Odorite building. More recently, the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks produced a legal opinion that it was not subject to CHAP final approval for a project they are planning. Thanks to Council President Sheila Dixon’s office, this particular instance will return for CHAP approval, but the question of the legal opinion is still untested.

5. The major undeveloped parcels of Mt. Vernon are owned by a single developer with a demonstrated multi-generational investment strategy. Without strict height restrictions, this developer will logically wait until the economy can support 300ft development and hire a team of lawyers and lobbyist to push it past CHAP in a city that is already riddled with CHAP concessions. Mount Vernon leaders are very concerned that he will next acquire the Chambers building (non-contributing structure) at 1010 N. Charles which is adjacent to one of his parking lots. The concern is that he would demolish it for more parking space while waiting for the 300 ft economy. Over the past three years, he has quietly acquired two historic Charles Street buildings, shuttered them and is allowing them to decay. One has began to crumble to the street last year, and CHAP has been ineffective in getting it repaired.

Work on this plan and the process of deciding heights in Mount Vernon is now six years old and has included five public hearings (three CHAP, one Planning Commission and one Urban Affairs Committee). At every turn, those who opposed the developer’s vision for skyscrapers have prevailed, though not without great personal sacrifice and literally thousands of hours of volunteer effort. As one example of community commitment to this one issue, the community purchased and restored the MaGillvary’s building on Charles Street at a cost of over $2.5 million just to keep the developer from consolidating it into his proposed skyscraper at Charles and Read. It is unfair for the city continue to pit the community against the wealth and power of this single absentee owner.

We encourage you to help get this bill out of committee promptly and with appropriate height limits included. We also strongly encourage the inclusion of all other recommended amendments submitted by the Planning Commission and CHAP.

Thank you for your consideration."

That letter was signed by the following:

Jason Curtis, President, Mt. Vernon-Belvedere Association
Steven Strohl, President, Canton Community Association
Keith Losoya, President, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association
Barry Blumberg, Treasurer, Mount Royal Improvement Association
Ellen von Karajan, Executive Director, Preservation Society

More Logos Than a Gucci Handbag!

The smart dressers on Baltimore City Council and in the Planning Department will have no problem comprehending this: The Fight the Height campaign to keep skyscrapers out of Mount Vernon has more logos on it than a Gucci handbag. Just look at them! Aren't they marvelous! I could kiss every last one of them, including the one of the Comptroller!

Baltimore City Council: "We don’t legislate for a single developer" - various

State of Maryland – Maryland Historical Trust: "I urge you to reconsider the maximum height limits keeping in mind the urban renewal plan's stated goals of making new buildings consistent with the scale of the community's historic resources and preserving the view corridors of the Washington Monument and Belvedere Hotel. A graduated height limitation scale allowing buildings of up to 150 feet, where appropriate, might better meet the renewal plan's goals." - J. Rodney Little, Director

The National Trust for Historic Preservation: "Mt. Vernon is the premier historic district of Baltimore encompassing some of the most significant architectural and cultural assets of Maryland, many of which also have national significance. The large-scale development allowed by the city’s proposed 180-foot height limits and minor setbacks would seriously undermine the historic and architectural value of Mt. Vernon in exchange for an unproven bid for density in what is primarily a townhouse-scale community. – Robert Nieweg, Director Southern Field Office

Preservation Maryland: "Increasing interest and market values convince us that this is not the time to jeopardize the character of Mt. Vernon with height limits that are not sympathetic to the existing historic fabric." - Tyler Gearhart, Executive Director (also Chair, CHAP)

Baltimore Heritage: "(Tall buildings) would ruin the very charm and character Mount Vernon prides itself on and that are driving its current economic revitalization." – Johns Hopkins, Executive Director

Midtown Development Corporation: "From Boston to Savannah, from New York to San Francisco, American cities put tall buildings on the fringes of historic districts, not in their heart, as our Planning Department is proposing." – Charlie Duff, Executive Director

Red Maple, Grand Central, Brewers Art, Thai Landing, Owl Bar, Spirits of Mt. Vernon, Minato, The Hippo, Belvedere Condominium Association, Never on Sunday, Cobbers, and 22 other Charles Street business and property owners: "We, the undersigned Charles Street business representatives oppose the proposal of the City of Baltimore and the lobbying efforts of major developers to build 180' and 200' buildings on historic Charles Street in Mount Vernon. We support our community in demanding a reasonable maximum height of 100' in this area which will finally spur responsible and appropriate development in this important commercial district." – by petition

1,000 Friends of Maryland: "The citys proposal to permit building this far out of scale with the historic structures in Mt. Vernon and along the Charles Street corridor is counter to smart planning". - Dru Schmidt-Perkins, Executive Director

Scenic Maryland: "Every resident of Maryland should be alarmed by the potential for reckless and destructive development in this area of Baltimore." - Elizabeth Buxton, Executive Director

Comptroller of Maryland: "Let towering behemoths go elsewhere. Keep Mount Vernon Mount Vernon." – William Donald Schaeffer

Baltimore Sun: "No one really thinks the sky should be the limit in greater Mount Vernon. That wouldn't spur development, and it wouldn't encourage the neighborhood feel of the place." – Editorial Board

Baltimore Historic Districts Council: "The Baltimore Historic Districts Council, a group that advocates for and promotes the city's 72 historic districts--which in total contain over 50,000 historic properties--has resolved to join the National Trust for Historic Preservation and state and local preservation interests in opposing the proposal of the City of Baltimore to allow 180 foot buildings on historic Charles Street in Mount Vernon" – Lance Humphries

Mount Royal Improvement Association (Bolton Hill): "We believe that while the height limits should encourage development on the current surface lots, they should also protect the important views that help define Mount Vernon, including views of the Washington Monument and Belvedere Hotel. The proposed limits do not do this: they will block historic views and destroy the character of the neighborhood." – David Rocha, President

Mt. Vernon-Belvedere Association: "For six years now this community has been put the terrible position of having to battle a single DC developer and his powerful Charles Street Development Corporation friends. In all five public hearings on the matter, not one resident and not one Charles Street retailer, restaurant, or club owner has testified in support of tall buildings. Not one! Zero!! Nada!!!" - Jason Curtis, President

Friends of Federal Hill: "[W]e are all facing precisely the same dilemma, and Rolley, a native New Yorker, is extremely comfortable re-casting Baltimore's Skyline in his hometown's image. – Paul Robinson, President

Canton Community Association: "The Canton Community Association shares the concerns of our friends in Mt. Vernon and we support their community recommended height maximum (100ft) as part of the Mt. Vernon Urban Renewal Plan." - Stephen Strohl, President

Read more on Who's Getting High?

Battle for Middle-earth Place

The recently obtained transcript from the September T.A. 2003 meeting of the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation of Middle-earth (CHAP-ME) is not the snoozer one might expect. Read some of the excerpts online.

If only this were a Tolkien novel...

Comprehensive Master Poem

Poems and planning documents have a lot in common. Few people read them. Even fewer understand them. And while both of them can inspire, they are quickly forgotten, and people go on as they always have as though they hadn't read anything at all. Words on a page, in other words.

To commemorate the release of a draft Comprehensive Master Plan for the City of Baltimore--the first in over 30 years--we are pleased to announce the launch of a new project: the Comprehensive Master Poem. So, in the spirit of community involvement, we invite you to submit stanzas of your own for consideration by our Comprehensive Master Poem Commission. Email your submissions to Brad.

Comprehensive Master Poem in progress. Reach it from here.

Some More Grant Deadlines

Here's a bit of a bright spot in an otherwise bleak preservation forecast. The Baltimore City Heritage Area is looking for some good grant applications. Instead of doing what everyone seems to be doing these days, that is, plagiarizing, I figured I'd run the ad in toto with due credit given to the Baltimore City Heritage Area team headed by Mr. Bill Pencek. Here it is (note the quotation marks):

"BALTIMORE CITY HERITAGE AREA NOW SOLICITING GRANT APPLICATIONS"

"Grant applications for the next round of grants from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund are due to the offices of the Baltimore City Heritage Area on March 15, 2006. The Fund provides matching grants to assist activities which address or complete a priority identified in the Baltimore City Heritage Area Management Action Plan. Grant requests of up to $50,000 for non-capital projects, and $100,000 for capital projects are encouraged. Eligible activities include planning, design, interpretation and programming, as well as property pre-development, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and restoration. For a copy of the application go to www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net and look under "Forms and Documents," then "Heritage Areas" for the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Project Grant Application. For more information contact Bill Pencek (bill.pencek@baltimorecity.gov) at 410 396-1954."

For those of you who can't follow directions, you can get the application in PDF just by clicking on the following: Take me to your application. You can get to the Action Plan from the BCHA website.

More grants and their deadlines posted at Some Grant Deadlines. Apply early and often.

Fire, Burn, Butter, Churn

The new comprehensive master plan is now available for review on the Live, Earn, Play, Learn website. Read up.