BALTIMORE, MD – Frustrated residents in Southwest Baltimore are calling on city leaders to step in after a long-vacant property has turned into a dangerous magnet for crime, trash, and severe structural hazards.
A Decade of Safety Violations
The privately owned home off West Lexington Street has been a persistent nightmare for the neighborhood for years. In the front window, multiple city-posted warning notices date back more than a decade, explicitly listing the presence of:
- Mold
- Asbestos
- Lead paint
Longtime neighbor Shirley Townsend expressed her exhaustion, stating that she has had to deal with unauthorized individuals gambling in the backyard and drug addicts tossing trash into her property. On Monday, the front door of the building stood wide open, and the adjoining yard was completely overgrown.
City Cites Owner but Legal Limits Remain
Local officials are aware of the situation but face legal bottlenecks due to the property being privately owned.
The Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) originally issued a vacant building notice for the property back in 2019 and has repeatedly fined the owner for failing to fix the issues.
Baltimore City Councilmember Dr. John Bullock confirmed the home’s troubled history, noting it has carried a vacant building notice since 2017. He emphasized that private ownership limits immediate city intervention, but officials are looking into potential receivership or foreclosure proceedings due to the repeated non-compliance.
Community Members Step In
While waiting for a permanent city response, a nearby resident identified as Mr. Less took matters into his own hands by personally sealing the open front door to prevent trespassers. Mr. Less stated he has an interest in protecting the block and has reached out directly to the property owner to clear the overgrown yard.
For residents like Townsend, legal actions cannot happen fast enough. Neighbors fear the unsecured building remains a massive fire trap that directly threatens the adjoining occupied homes.
