We are continuing to pay close attention to the Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel project where the possible replacement of an existing railroad tunnel threatens to blocks of historic rowhouses and industrial buildings in West Baltimore. At the public meetings this past April, residents and stakeholders had an opportunity to share questions and learn more about the process. However, the details available at that early stage were limited and it was unclear which buildings would be affected by the proposal.

An open house meeting next week provides the latest opportunity to learn more about the project including new details on the project engineering and the environmental impact on Baltimore.

Alternatives Public Open House – B&P Tunnel Project
Tuesday, June 16, 2015, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Carver Vocational-Technical High School
2201 Presstman Street, Baltimore, MD 21216

The open house format includes identical presentations at 5:30 pm, 6:15 pm and 7:00 pm.

Last month, Baltimore Heritage became an official “consulting party” in the Section 106 process—an important step in the National Historic Preservation Act that requires the close review the impact of the project on any historic places in the area. We are asking for your help. Please get involved, come out to the open house and help us push the design team behind the B&P Tunnel project to avoid or minimize damage to historic West Baltimore neighborhoods or to find a meaningful way to mitigate the damage.

You can learn more about the Section 106 process from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation or find a summary of the related NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process on the B&P Tunnel website. Boards summarizing the project are available for download here or we encourage you to read our April update for more background on the potential preservation issues.