Save the Rochambeau

Williamson Article on preservebaltimore

2006-03-11T06:15:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Williamson's 1997 article on Flores and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act offers some great background information on the series of lawsuits that have helped move the issue of religious freedom and historic preservation through the courts, including the infamous 1996 Keeler v. Mayor of Cumberland case. But what if the plaintiff is an LLC, not a religious congregation? How would Smith intermediate scrutiny (read the article) affect the outcome? I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know the answers to those questions. Perhaps someone else does. Click on the title of this post to get to the article.

Update, Please

2006-01-28T07:15:00.000-05:00

Sun reporter Jill Rosen noted last fall that Otis Rolley III, the director of the Baltimore City Planning Department, was "trying to find a way to preserve the Rochambeau while getting the church the basilica tourism complex it's seeking" ("Rochambeau gets key backing...," Baltimore Sun, November 13, 2005). Any progress to report, Mr. Rolley?

Just Imagine

2006-01-23T22:11:00.000-05:00

preservebaltimore posted a great historic view of the Rochambeau earlier this week. Be sure to check it out.

Time's a'wasting

2006-01-23T13:10:00.000-05:00

The issue of the Rochambeau Apartments (southwest corner of Charles and Franklin Streets, 1905, Edward Hughes Glidden, architect) first came up in October 2002, when it was revealed that the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore had purchased it for $3.5 million. The Rochambeau occupies a corner of the block on which also sits the Basilica of the Assumption (1806 and onward, Benjamin H. Latrobe, architect), which is undergoing a highly-touted restoration.

In that same October 2002, the Archdiocese stated in the press that it had no plans to tear down the Rochambeau. But those who saw an Archdiocese-commissioned rendering of the whole southside unit block of West Franklin Street, including the Rochambeau and two early 19th-century townhouses, replaced by a modernistic Basilica visitors' center, soon knew better. And in September 2004, the Archdiocese said it was exploring options for the building, including demolition. Then, on May 20, 2005, it applied for a demolition permit.

There's been much in the Baltimore press about the Rochambeau: Sun, 10/5/02, 10/10/02, 10/21/02, 10/22/02, 10/24/02, 10/18/04, 6/2/05, 6/5/05, 6/11/05, 11/13/05, 11/23/05, 11/29/05; Daily Record, 9/23/04, 9/27/05; City Paper, 11/3/04, 11/10/04. If you care about the building and you're not "up" on it, go to the websites to see. And there have been letters and meetings and arguments ad infinitum back and forth, among preservation organizations, the Archdiocese, the city government, and others.

But here's what the bottom line has shaken out to be. There's a city ordinance, that the city is following, that governs the Rochambeau, and that says the Archdiocese has to wait until June 8, 2006 to demolish it. And a main thing under the ordinance is that some outside party should come up with a rehab "offer that can't be refused."

There's another thing, of course. The Archdiocese, in the person of Cardinal William H. Keeler, could simply change its mind, and avoid what someone has said would be the travesty of destroying a fine old building in a historic district in connection with a restoration project (that of the Basilica).

So if you know of anyone who'd like to put some great apartments in a great old building, duplicating successes like that all over town (and in an even better location), please ask for the order, now.

And on the second count, the Cardinal will never change his mind unless you keep those cards and letters coming: 320 Cathedral Street, 21201.

If the Rochambeau is lost and you haven't acted according to your own lights and experience, don't blame anyone else.

And remember that date, June 8. Time's a'wasting.

By the way, please post and/or comment on preservebaltimore and all its subjects, and let everyone know about it. It's the instantaneous, direct, dialogue-oriented way of making a difference.

Rochambeau, the Man

2006-01-22T20:19:00.000-05:00

If people only knew who Rochambeau was, maybe they'd think twice before tearing down the French military leader's namesake in Baltimore. Read more about Rochambeau, the Man.