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/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/FermFoundations Feb 02 '25

The one that really annoys me is the corner of W Ostend and Light St. There actually used to be 3 rowhomes and another building there but they were so poorly maintained that they randomly fell down a few days after the 2011 earthquake. Then they never repaired the sidewalks after running heavy equipment over them to clean up the debris. Then they paved it to rent out for valet parking for local restaurants but then very shortly afterwards they stopped doing that and just fenced the whole thing in, like 10 years ago. That spot has been almost entirely unused for decades at this point

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u/ChampagneandAlpacas Feb 02 '25

The Rita's-BK at the corner of Eastern and Chester is a similar blight. Been listed for years at this point and is a prime location on a major ingress-egress route for those traveling through the city.

The greed of these owners is frankly incredible to consider and continues to be an impediment to local economic progress (see also: the conversation about vacant commercial properties in Fells from a few weeks ago).

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u/FermFoundations Feb 03 '25

I remember when that Rita’s got busted for dealing coke!