Joseph Beckman Sr. has called McComas Street in West Covington home for more than 24 years. He doesn?t plan on moving anytime soon.
Beckman and other residents of the McComas Street neighborhood showed up at the Baltimore City Planning Commission?s latest meeting to speak against the Baltimore Development Corp.?s West Covington Urban Renewal Plan. The plan would have given the city the authority to take control of about 50 acres of land in West Covington ? including seven McComas Street homes ? for redevelopment.
The commission ultimately voted against the plan, citing the residents? united opposition as a deciding factor. The redevelopment proposal now heads to the City Council for a definitive vote.
“Eminent domain issues are never easy,” commission Chairman Peter Auchincloss said. “I can?t remember any of them being hands-down, across-the-board opposition.”
Beckman told the commission the families living on McComas Street know and look out for each other.
“It?s a close-knit community,” Beckman said. “We?re not against the development of the future. We want to be a part of that future.”
When asked by the Planning Commission whether he would consider relocating to a new home that was included in the mixed-use West Covington proposal, Beckman said, “No.”
“I?ve always lived there, and we like where we are,” Beckman said.
Tracy Covington, a teacher, bought her home on McComas Street seven years ago after renting for seven years. She told the commission that owning her own home was “the American dream.”
“Now that there?s interest in the area, we?re not good enough to be included,” Covington said. “I?m opposed to people taking your American dream right out from under you.”
The plan would have also forced the relocation of three businesses along with the residents of the McComas Street homes.
“A number of people and fully functioning businesses are going to suffer from this,” commission Vice Chairman Javier Bustamante said. “It?s very difficult for me to vote in recommendation at this stage.”
