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Council hearing on vacant, abandoned garages spotlights safety, ownership gaps and new demolition funds
Summary
Council members and residents pressed DHCD on stalled enforcement and unclear ownership of dilapidated garages; department said it will set aside demolition funds and work with communities on acquisition and reuse, and the committee asked for a written SOP and named points of contact before the next hearing.
At an evening hearing of the Baltimore City Council Housing and Economic Development Committee, council members, neighborhood leaders and agency staff focused on long‑standing problems with vacant and deteriorating garages across multiple neighborhoods, including Garrison Hill, Windsor Hills and Parkway. Residents described safety hazards, illegal dumping and lost redevelopment opportunities; the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) described enforcement limits and said the city will dedicate demolition funding for garages in the capital budget.
Council Vice President Middleton, who requested the informational hearing, said she has received hundreds of calls about dilapidated garages and asked DHCD to "clarify the process they follow to address this blight." Alice Kennedy, DHCD—s housing commissioner, told the committee that code enforcement inspectors begin investigations from 3‑1‑1 complaints or…
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