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Left-Indication t1_ixwgmi2 wrote

The Archdiocese of Baltimore tore down the 54 unit Rochambeau Apartments for a prayer garden in 2006. The city cannot allow organizations to keep tearing down historic buildings for more "green space" or prayer gardens. Mount Vernon's urban fabric is some of the densest and most historic in the entire city, it makes zero sense to tear even more of it down with no adequate replacement.

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okdiluted t1_ixwtmaq wrote

not to mention that a lot of this architecture is just plain impossible to replicate in this day and age! some of it is prohibited by zoning, some of it has been made by craftsmen who just don't exist anymore, some of it is just cost prohibitive to build new. this would be a really irreparable loss to historic architecture for the sake of "hard scape space" (a private concrete lot?) and a "prayer garden" in an area with several good sized, public parks within walking distance.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_iy1p6w8 wrote

Yes. How often would it even be used? From a practical sense it's pretty clear that these houses need to be rebuilt.

I do wonder why they were given to the church in the first place?

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ElectricStar87 t1_ixz2tro wrote

This is before my time here, so can’t comment specifically. I will only offer that they also provide substantial services and refuge to homeless folks through their facility on the other end of the block. It’s a different kind of benefit, and perhaps things don’t really net out in that way, but it bothers me less.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_iy1ohk4 wrote

I agree with you absolutely especially when it's not for the public to use.

Fix up the houses (somebody) and use them for people to live in.

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