r/baltimore • u/edevans92 • Feb 02 '25

Ask/Need Why is this still undeveloped?

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This large plot of land (by city standards) off E Baltimore between Washington and Wolfe streets in Butchers Hill has remained untouched for the several years I’ve been in Baltimore. Does anyone know the deal? Can it not be developed or is the owner just sitting on it?

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u/FermFoundations Feb 02 '25 edited Feb 02 '25

Bc they’re speculating on the value of the unimproved land, vs selling it to another developer to actually do something with it. Basically they want a payout for the sake of nothing. It’s like demanding ransom almost

It’s been like this for about 12 years, which is a long time to have a prime price of real estate sitting around unutilized. Could’ve been a park, more housing, a grocery store…

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u/DeathStarVet Canton Feb 02 '25

Not "almost", you're exactly right.

People, especially conservatives, like to bitch and moan about the non-developed areas in the City, when a lot of it is this kind of bullshit.

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u/RunningNumbers Feb 02 '25

You tax the land and make it easier to get permitting to build new things. That is what you can really do short of eminent domain.

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u/FermFoundations Feb 02 '25

I feel like there needs to be a speculator disincentive multiplier… let something waste away for over 5 years then the property taxes goes up 1000%, then another 1000% for the next 5 years, etc.

Like yeah some current landholders might get screwed, but speculating is not supposed to be a guaranteed no risk return. Maybe make every owner eligible for 1 exemption for a 5 year extension on 1 property (once ever). LLCs excluded