Baltimore is becoming known for the ‘sneaky after-hour demolitions’ of its historic buildings. Demolition of the Grand started between Christmas and new years. As I write this, demolition of the entire block has been completed. With the Grand went several century-old commercial buildings with interesting storefronts. One was a Little Tavern Hamburgers building from the 1930’s. It had an all porcelain enamel sided building and roof. It was still in much of its original condition. What’s next?
What makes the demolition of the Grand more difficult was what took place five years ago. When plans for a new regional library surfaced, the original site was not at the Grand site. The proposed library was to rise on the site of a ugly, non-descript 1950’s supermarket one block to the east. The neighborhood rejected that idea, citing the need for their supermarket. (of coarse, but…)The alternate site?
Another loss at the site, pale in comparison, was one of the last Little Tavern Hamburgers free-standing building. it sat two doors down from the Grand, on the corner of a little alley.It had remained a Little Tavern until recently, never being altered.
Baltimore is becoming known for the ‘sneaky after-hour demolitions’ of its historic buildings. Demolition of the Grand started between Christmas and new years. As I write this, demolition of the entire block has been completed. With the Grand went several century-old commercial buildings with interesting storefronts. One was a Little Tavern Hamburgers building from the 1930’s. It had an all porcelain enamel sided building and roof. It was still in much of its original condition. What’s next?
What makes the demolition of the Grand more difficult was what took place five years ago. When plans for a new regional library surfaced, the original site was not at the Grand site. The proposed library was to rise on the site of a ugly, non-descript 1950’s supermarket one block to the east. The neighborhood rejected that idea, citing the need for their supermarket. (of coarse, but…)The alternate site?
Another loss at the site, pale in comparison, was one of the last Little Tavern Hamburgers free-standing building. it sat two doors down from the Grand, on the corner of a little alley.It had remained a Little Tavern until recently, never being altered.