7 days ago
Baltimore preservation group raises concerns after asphalt used to cover historic Fells Point road
A Baltimore preservation society is sharing concerns with city leaders after asphalt was used to cover historic railroad tracks in Fells Point.
According to the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point, the "inappropriate repairs" in the 1500 to 1800 blocks of Thames Street took place despite years of concerns and visits by advocates and transportation officials.
The preservation group claims that the improper use of asphalt patches has further degraded the historic street's Belgian block surface.
"Most notably, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has egregiously violated Article 6 of the Baltimore City Code, which clearly requires that all repairs be reviewed by the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) before they begin," the group said in a letter to city leaders.
The group also said the project violates the Baltimore City Historic Preservation Design Guidelines, also called CHAP guidelines, which promote responsible preservation practices.
Under the city's CHAP guidelines, builders are urged to "preserve historic street paving materials where they still exist, even if the paving materials have been covered by later paving."
The guidelines also ask builders to "assess the potential impact upon the character of individual streets and alleys" when starting new construction projects or improvements.
In their letter, advocates said the community has been requesting repairs to Thames Street for the past decade. Around 2018, the city provided an estimate for the restoration project.
"Regrettably, instead of following these documented and agreed-upon directives, DOT proceeded unilaterally with a hot patch asphalt repair, bypassing essential consultations," advocates wrote. "This action undermines public trust and constitutes a serious breach of established protocols."
In the letter to city leaders, the group demanded a timeline for when the damaged street can be repaired.
WJZ has reached out to the DOT and the mayor's office for comment.
Parts of Fells Point are known for their historic significance, and the preservation society, which was founded in 1967, aims to ensure that historic areas of Baltimore are renovated and maintained in keeping with city guidelines.
The Fells Point waterfront served as one of the biggest seaports in the U.S. during the British War of 1812, and was a major supply channel for guns and flour during the Revolutionary War, according to the preservation group.
Thames Street, where the paving project took place, features historic buildings, including the Merchant's House, which was built in the 1790s. Preservation advocates have worked to revive the area as a major commercial and residential corridor.
