St. Paul Rectory decision reversed!

After being turned down just a few weeks ago, the design for a Robotic Parking Garage proposed for the lot adjacent the 1791 Old St. Paul’s Rectory and Preservation Maryland headquarters was surprisingly approved at last week’s hearing of Baltimore’s Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel (UDARP). Representatives from Old St. Paul’s Church, Preservation Maryland and other neighbors testified that the proposed building did not conform to legal requirements in the N. Charles St. Special District in the Central Business Urban Renewal Plan, but to no avail. Obviously, both the outcome of the hearing and overall review process have been very disappointing. It remains unclear whether the relevant design standards and development requirements were ever actually applied. Preservation Maryland is requesting that the Solicitor’s Opinion and the basis for approval by UDARP and Planning Staff be made available to the public before the building permit is issued, and are reviewing the remaining options for opposing construction of the Garage.

Saved!

At its hearing last Thursday, Baltimore’s Urban Design and Architectural Review Panel turned down the design for a robotic parking garage proposed to be built on the lot adjacent the 1791 Old St. Paul’s Rectory, headquarters for Preservation Maryland ("Baltimore design panel rejects plan for robotic parking garage" January 30, 2009).

We applaud the Panel members for their decision based on concerns over the 105’ height of the garage and it not fitting in with the character of the surrounding buildings in Cathedral Hill National Register Historic District. The proposed garage would dwarf the Rectory, a Baltimore City Landmark, and clearly does not conform to the legal requirements of the Special District in the Urban Renewal Plan, including a 80’ height limit, intended to preserve the historical and architectural significance of the area.

First turned down as the “wrong building in the wrong place” some two years ago, the proposed garage has become a test of Baltimore City’s willingness and ability to apply and enforce its own development requirements.

Save the 1791 Old St. Paul's Rectory

Help Save the 1791 Old St. Paul’s Rectory

from the “Garage from Hell”

A massive robotic parking garage that threatens Preservation Maryland’s Headquarters in the 1791 Old St. Paul’s Rectory is poised to receive approval by Baltimore’s Urban Design and Architectural Review Committee at its hearing tomorrow at 1:30 pm. Your immediate action is needed to help stop this absurd proposal.

The parking garage was originally proposed some four years ago and turned down under the previous Administration as the “wrong building in the wrong place.” The developer of the project, who has himself called the proposed building the “garage from hell”, refused to accept that decision and is hoping that his persistence and influence can reverse it, despite the fact he co-owns a much more appropriate development site directly across the street.

The proposed 100’ tall building clearly does not meet the legal requirements of the Central Business District Urban Renewal Plan, which states: “Within the North Charles Street Special District, new structures may not exceed the height of 80 feet. This provision is to encourage the maintenance of the existing pedestrian scale of the area…Many of the buildings in the Project Area have historical and architectural significance that should be protected. It is important that new buildings are compatible with the surrounding buildings in terms of building setback, mass, proportions, and materials…Large areas of blank facades are not permitted.”

One need only look carefully for the dotted outline of the Rectory in front of the WEST ELEVATION OF THE PROPOSED GARAGE to see that the building simply does not conform. While the garage would dwarf Preservation Maryland’s headquarters in the 1791 Old St. Paul’s Rectory (a Baltimore City Landmark) and negatively impact our neighbors in the Cathedral Hill National Register District, we and our landlord Old St. Paul’s Church, have been denied information on required approvals and our requests to meet with MAYOR SHEILA DIXON.

Please immediately contact Mayor Dixon, Councilman Bill Cole, and the members of the Urban Design and Architectural Review Panel (see below) to ask them to uphold the Urban Renewal Plan requirements and integrity of the development review process, and stop the proposed garage at 18 W. Saratoga Street. It remains the “wrong building in the wrong place.”

Thank you!!

Matthew L. Kimball, Esq.

President

Mayor Sheila Dixon

mayor@baltimorecity.gov

410- 396-3835

Councilman Bill Cole

William.Cole@baltimorecity.gov

410-396-4816

Urban Design and Architectural Review Panel

Gary A. Bowden

Stanford R. Britt

Mark Cameron

Emily Hotaling Eig

Walter D. Ramberg

Mario L. Schack

M.J. Brodie

Paul T. Graziano

Robert M. Quilter

garus1@aol.com; scbritt2@verizon.net; mcameron@ndc-md.org; emily.eig@traceries.com; wdramberg@yahoo.com; mls44@cornell.edu; paul.graziano@habc.org; Robert.quilter@baltimorecity.gov; JBrodie@baltimoredevelopment.com

Moxley refuses to save Arden

Tell councilman community wants Bloede House to stay

Letter to Editor of the Catonsville Times published: August 20, 2008

Councilman Sam Moxley decided to allow the demolition of the Victor Bloede house on Forest Avenue.

His four reasons for not placing the house on the County Landmarks list are quoted below from his e-mail to me and others. Following each one is my response.

"I based this decision on several factors. First, this property was considered for landmark nomination in 2006. At the time, the Landmark Preservation Commission did not move forward because staff determined the existing house was not historic and the application was withdrawn."

Reply: Staff did a hasty drive-by, and did not know the historic significance of Mr. Bloede, which is the reason his house was nominated to the landmarks list. In January, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted 7-3 to put the house on the Preliminary Landmarks List, which makes any earlier considerations irrelevant.

"Also, the LPC staff review of this recent third party request did not support landmark status. In fact, the county staff did not believe the house is 'a distinctive example of a particular architectural style or period' and that 'the house Mr. Bloede lived in while he was notable burned down.'"

Reply: The house was not nominated for its architecture; it was nominated -- and approved by the LPC -- because of its association with Mr. Bloede. It's true that the original house burned, but the new house occupies the footprint of the old one, and Mr. Bloede lived on the site for 40 years.

While Albert Einstein lived in Princeton, his productive days were behind him. Should Einstein's house in Princeton be demolished for a new subdivision?

"Additionally, the LPC's own technical committee recommended that the property not be listed: that it be torn down instead."

Reply: The full LPC disagreed and overwhelmingly voted to put the house on the Preliminary Landmarks List.

"Lastly, the property owner did not apply for this status. While I am very supportive of historic preservation, it is important to me to have the property owner's support. When someone else applies for the status, I expect there to be absolutely no question as to the validity of the request. With the reports I received from county staff, the LPC, and residents and interested persons, that did not happen here."

Reply: The property owner does not live in the United States. He is an absentee landlord. The push for demolition comes from a developer, who does not live in the area and does not even own the property yet.

Under these circumstances, I don't see why their desires should outweigh those of the community, especially since all the new houses can fit on the site without having to demolish the Bloede House.

The law and the facts overwhelmingly support the landmarking of the Bloede House. Its demolition in the face of community opposition can only be construed as a handout to a developer.

How do we know?

Because there is one question Mr. Moxley did not address: How does Catonsville benefit from the destruction of the Bloede House?

It's not too late. The County Council will meet Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. to discuss the landmarks bill.

Please contact Councilman Moxley and ask him to add the Bloede House to the landmarks list.

Daniel Rosen
Catonsville

Welcome to the Save Arden blog

Arden was the former home of Victor Gustav Bloede built in 1924 in Catonsville, Maryland. It is currently at risk of being razed to make room for a 23 unit PUD on the grounds of the estate. The property was given preliminary Historic Landmark status in January by the Baltimore County Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The Baltimore County Council held a public hearing on July 7th. The Council will vote on Arden’s final Landmark status on July 29th. We need YOUR help! Please contact Councilman Sam Moxley, and the rest of the Council members, to voice your opinion on the necessity of preserving Arden. We need you to urge Councilman Moxley to draft a bill placing Arden into permanent History Landmark status.

Take a moment to read the posts below to learn why this property is so important to not only Catonsville, but to the general public as well. We welcome your comments. Don’t forget to visit the related links to the left. Please click on the subscribe button so you can be kept up-to-date on the progress. We will post information on this site as it becomes available.

Letter to the Editor of the Catonsville Times

Razing of home would be a loss for Catonsville history

The building of the Baltimore Beltway tore the heart out of just one neighborhood: Eden Park in Catonsville.

The stately streets at the edges of that neighborhood still run between Edmondson Avenue and Frederick Road, but they are separated by Interstate 695.

What's left of Eden Park is on the verge of suffering demolition of yet another of its great historic houses.

The developer of 23 townhouses on Forest Avenue wants the Victor Bloede house gone.

Built to be fireproof in 1924 and called Arden by its owner, the house, though in disrepair, is habitable and structurally sound.

Three of the proposed 23 townhouses barely intrude on the footprint of the existing house. The new houses and the Bloede house can easily coexist on the 7-acre site, but the developer won't budge.

If Councilman Sam Moxley does not place the Bloede house on the final landmarks list at the County Council's work session July 29, it will disappear.

Victor Gustav Bloede (1849-1937) was one of the greatest people ever to live here.

Catonsville, as we love it, would not exist if not for him, because he brought water, electricity, the streetcar and the First National Bank -- which still stands on the corner of Frederick Road and Ingleside Avenue -- to the town, in addition to building Eden Park.

To learn more about Mr. Bloede's achievements, his more than 20 patents, and his national and international renown, go to http://savearden.blogspot.com/.

Please write, call, e-mail or visit Councilman Moxley, urging him to place the Bloede house on the final landmarks list.

It is difficult to pass on traditional values without traditional places, and the short-term interests of a contract purchaser do not outweigh the interests of the community, where Victor Bloede lived and worked.

His house has stood for 85 years and deserves to remain.

Daniel Rosen
Catonsville

In Summary: Victor Bloede

Victor G. Bloede
1839-1937
Catonsville Baltimore County
Maryland

Baltimore Countian Victor G. Bloede was noted as a chemist; among his 20 plus patents are creation of aniline dyes (called Sunfast), and postage stamp glue. These inventions almost pale in comparison when mentioned along with his other achievements:

-Graduate of Cooper Union at 18 with degree in chemical engineering and associate of Peter Cooper (the "Tom Thumb")

-Contemporary of Thomas Edison and executives of Standard Oil and member of the turn of the century cult of invention in the US

-Winner of the Republique Francaise Medal, Paris 1889, the World Columbian Exposition Medal Chicago, 1893, the Franklin Institute Medal 1894, Peter Cooper Medal for Significant Contribution to Chemical Research 1918 and Cooper Union Award for Assistance to the Blind and Afflicted

-National pioneer in construction technology

-Who's Who in American 1925

-But most important to us he built or caused to be built:

Bloede Dam (power generating) – on the Patapsco; first of its kind in nation with reinforced concrete and with underwater hydrological plant housed in metal plating from Poole and Hunt who made plates for the Capitol Dome. (By comparison Conowingo Dam was not built until 1928.)

Patapsco Electric and Manufacturing Co using power from the dam to bring electricity to the area

            Catonsville and Ellicott City Electric RR 1899

These creations are representative of the means by which Baltimore City could be accessed; opened the door to the expansion of the suburbs with the introduction of municipal comforts as was transpiring in other urban areas. This is a time when no other company or government would extend these facilities.

1^st National Bank of Catonsville – 1897 along with John Glenn of Hilton and Dr. Charles MacGill regimental surgeon to the Stonewall Brigade. (the 1902 building still stands in Catonsville)

Avalon Water Works 1906

Maria Bloede Building part of Eudowood Sanitarium

Eden Terrace Water Co. – pumping station and water from Caton Springs with a water wheel powered by steam

- But further he was a man of compassion, intellect and civic activism:

Supporter and signatory to a letter for President Grant along with Horace Greeley, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Peter Cooper

Provider of a form of workman's compensation before any such assistance was used

            Assured that citizens had local banking opportunities

Frequent contributor to the Sun

Author of The Reducers an innovative work on recycling photographic wastes/      toxins

Member of the Maryland Fifth Regiment Reserve Corps (the famous "Dandy Fifth")

Member of the 6^th International Congress on Tuberculosis along with B. Griswold, Governor George Brown, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, Mayor Barry Mahool, Cardinal Gibbons, Dr. JMT Finney and Daniel Gilman

Victor Bloede was a chemical engineer, entrepreneur, banker, innovator, construction genius, benefactor, businessman, award winner, philanthropist, catalyst and a dedicated citizen of Baltimore County.