A historical preservation group that has identified the top most endangered Baltimore County sites, said properties could soon be completely lost to neglect, demolition and ignorance.
The seven properties identified ? including a War of 1812 battlefield, post-Civil War homes built by freed slaves and the state?s second-oldest armory ? are not protected as part of state or county registries, but should be, said members of the Baltimore County Historical Trust.
Advocates said they fear the county isn?t doing enough to preserve historically significant buildings and said developers are using “pre-demolition” to circumvent proper razing permits.
Members of the county council identified nine of 13 properties recommended for preservation by the county?s landmarks committee, said Patricia Bentz, the group?s executive director.
“It?s very discouraging when you have very knowledgeable people make a recommendation that?s completely disregarded by the county council,” Bentz said. “These decisions don?t come lightly.”
Three other properties were not preserved because developers stripped them of anything architecturally salvageable ? such as windows, molding, stair rails and floorboards, Bentz said. The pre-demolition process does not require a county permit and gives developers a chance to remove historic features before they apply for
demolition, she said.
The list is a first for the trust, said David Marks, vice chairman of the group?s board of directors, and includes several 20th-century properties, including workers housing at the Glenn L. Martin company?s bomber construction plant, the former home of Richard Nixon.
Marks emphasized the list is not a criticism of the county?s landmarks commission, which has registered nearly 350 properties since 1976.
“The landmarks preservation commission has protected a lot of properties, andthe members on it now are much more interested in preservation than previous commissions,” Marks said.
