Demolition of 723 West Pratt Street to Create a Green Space

We, the undersigned, would like to request that Baltimore City CHAP reconsider their decision to block the demolition of the 723 West Pratt building owned by the University of Maryland Medical System.  We understand that this decision was made, in part, if not in whole, based on the recommendation of the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) here in Ridgely's Delight.  Unfortunately, the majority of the members of ARC are residents, not historians, who live in the southern part of the neighborhood, blocks from Pratt Street and, therefore, are not affected by this decision.  Although, a single representative from the northern end of Ridgely's normally sits on the committee, despite attempts to contact the others, he was not notified of the time or location of the meeting where the letter was crafted that was sent to CHAP.  In other words, our concerns were not represented by the ARC when that recommendation was made.

While we appreciate the efforts to preserve the architectural integrity of Ridgely's Delight there are several other issues concerning this property that we do not believe were taken into consideration when evaluating the option of demolition. These are primarily issues of environmental impact and fiscal responsibility.

1. Is this property historic?

We have not received any information, despite our efforts, explaining what makes this building historic.  We have never received an answer from CHAP or any logical, coherent explanation from Ridgley's ARC.  This entire discussion about saving this building may be moot if 723 West Pratt is not a historic building.

2. 723 West Pratt is structurally unstable, unsafe, and a horrific eyesore.

Another issue that we do not believe was considered in the decision to deny the permit to raze 723 West Pratt was the cost of demanding that UMMS rehab the building.  As neighbors of this building we are not interested in just having it stabilized and remain a boarded up eyesore.  While stabilizing it might address the public safety issue, it does not address the aesthetics and the problem with rats and vagrants attracted to a boarded up building.  Additionally, to demand that UMMS put the kind of money that would be needed to actually restore the building will create additional stress to a state owned facility at a time when the state is already struggling to balance a budget with deep cuts to needed programs throughout the state.  We all know that cost containment in our health care systems is high priority as we move forward to health care reform and this seems like an obvious waste of resources in a system already struggling to meet the health care needs of the city and the state as a whole.

3. Increased and severe flooding on Dover St. due to the development of the last green space.

The north end of Ridgely's is essentially without green space which we now know is an essential component in addressing global warming concerns.  While the south end of Ridgely's is fortunate to have Conway Park with its open expanse of grass and trees, we are surrounded by densely packed buildings.  Up until a few years ago we did have a vacant lot on the corner of Freemont St. and Dover St. that created an open space for us but that has since been developed.  After that development, several of us noticed water problems in our basements and have had to go to considerable expense to deal with these problems. When it rains heavily, Dover St. literally becomes a 6 inch deep river.  Many of us have stood and watched water cascading off of 723 West Pratt onto Dover St. during rain storms, obviously contributing significantly to the problem.

UMMS made the offer to create a green space, at the very least, until they come up with an alternative plan for the property.  According to an UMMS official, they were also in the process of securing an agreement with the University to take down their derelict properties adjacent to 723 West Pratt as well, if UMMS were granted the right to demolition 723 West Pratt.  If we could get UMMS and the University to commit to maintaining these properties as green spaces while decisions for the property's future are being considered, it would have a major favorable environmental impact on the area in that it would, no doubt, decrease the amount of runoff we are seeing on Dover St.    When either institution eventually builds on the property we assume that by then the city would have some better developed plans in place to ensure that new construction is done with awareness of runoff issues and therefore better water containment plans.

As tax payers, home owners and neighbors of the northern end of Ridgely's Delight, we request that that a demolition permit be reconsidered by CHAP with an eye towards not just this building, but the overall environmental, fiscal and aesthetic concerns presented here.  Remember, this delapitated building and the surrounding boarded up state owned structures are at the main gateway into the tourist center of the city, the first real block of Baltimore a vistor sees when entering the city on Pratt St.  This should not be their first impression of our city, we can do better.

Thank you for your time and consideration.