The city of Baltimore is setting aside nearly $500,000 to tear down an abandoned warehouse on property the city purchased in nearly 10 years ago. According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, the city is hopeful that razing the building can help spur revitalization in the area, but public safety is the primary driver.
Safety issues connected to the empty supermarket warehouse have caused Baltimore’s Department of General Services to budget $490,000 and to oversee its demolition. A city official quoted by the Sun says of the building, “It’s about to fall down.”
The city has been trying to redevelop the area for nearly 10 years. In January of 2014, the city sold two nearby parcels to tire recycler Emanuel Tire Co.. The long-established Baltimore tire recycling firm had leased the properties for decades before making the $1.1 million purchase in January.
An Emanuel Tire Co. vice president quoted by the Sun says his firm was not interested in the decaying warehouse structure, but if the building is demolished and the site is cleared the land itself could be of interest.
Baltimore warehouse nears demo date
City of Baltimore willing to pay nearly $500,000 to demolish old supermarket warehouse.