Author: Johns

Johns Hopkins has been the executive director of Baltimore Heritage since 2003. Before that, Johns worked for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development developing and implementing smart growth and neighborhood revitalization programs. Johns holds degrees from Yale University, George Washington University Law School, and the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Spring is here and Looking Up Downtown is back at the Baltimore Farmer’s Market

Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts
Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts

Spring has arrived and our popular Looking Up Downtown Tours are back. This Sunday is your chance to discover a piece of the Berlin Wall in downtown Baltimore, stumble upon a War of 1812 cannon ball, and catch a glimpse of the noble lions, hellish fiends, and neo-Egyptian sphinxes that call the buildings downtown home! With our quick 75-minute guided walking tour you will learn about the architecture and the history of downtown Baltimore. Our route winds through a yard of the early 19th century Zion Lutheran Church, past Baltimore City Hall to pay a visit to the proud survivors of Baltimore’s Great 1904 Fire and return right back where we start at the Baltimore Farmer’s Market!

Looking Up Downtown – Gargoyles & More!
Sunday, April 7, 9:30am to 10:45am

Tours continue twice a month on the first and third Sunday from April through November.
Meet at the Baltimore Farmers’ Market – at the Hollywood Diner, N. Holliday and S. Saratoga Streets
RSVP online today! $5 for adults. Children under 16 are free!

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Stewardship of Baltimore City-owned historic landmarks remains a critical issue

"This Place Matters" at the McKim Center
“This Place Matters” at the McKim Center

Last week, the Baltimore Business Journal published a report prepared for Baltimore City by a real estate consulting firm recommending various options for seventeen historic buildings owned by Baltimore City. When the City first commissioned this report last spring, it prompted widespread concern over the future of much-loved landmarks like the Shot Tower, Peale Museum, and Cylburn Mansion. At the time, we called for an open process that would ensure a seat at the table for the many citizens and volunteers who for decades have protected and celebrated these important landmarks. Now that the consultant’s report is final and the City has begun considering options for the seventeen buildings on the list, we believe the need for an inclusive deliberation is paramount to ensure the sites under consideration can be preserved and remain assets for Baltimore.

Carroll Mansion, 1936. Image courtesy Library of Congress, HABS.
Carroll Mansion, 1936. Image courtesy Library of Congress, HABS.

We commend Baltimore City for focusing on the seventeen historic properties subject to the report, some of which are in desperate need of repair. Long term leases, money-generating tenants, and perhaps even outright sale should be considered for some of the sites. Many others on the list, however, have friends groups that have cared for them for years (decades in some instances), that have raised money for their maintenance and restoration, and that are current and active in their work. Clifton Mansion, the Shot Tower, Carroll Mansion, and the Crimea are prime examples in this category. Still others, including the Peale Museum, Roland Park Water Tower, and President Street Station, have groups actively working with the City to gain control and begin restoration. The people who have devoted themselves to the buildings on the list should be part of the decision-making process. The consultant’s report appears to leave out the time, money, and dedication that Baltimoreans have already put into these landmarks and to undervalue their potential for the future stewardship of these historic places.

We will continue to advocate for an open process as the City moves forward in making decisions over the fates of these seventeen buildings. The seventeen buildings on the table deserve to be occupied and restored so that they can remain assets for Baltimore. The seventeen properties addresses by this report include:

Workshop to help you choose paint colors and restore walls for your old house

Join Baltimore Heritage and our friendly team of paint and restoration experts at Second Chance for a two-part workshop on the secrets of choosing paint colors and preparing old walls to make sure they stick.

Image courtesy the The Old House Blog.
Image courtesy the The Old House Blog.

Paint Colors and Paint Restoration Workshop
Second Chance, 1700 Ridgely Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Morning Session – 9:00am – 11:30am
Afternoon Session – 1:00pm – 3:30pm
RSVP today! $10 for the morning session, $20 for the afternoon session or $25 for both sessions.

Morning Session – Introduction to Choosing Paint & Color with Margaret Nelson and Janie Reeves

Whether you are painting the porch fn a Victorian rowhouse in Reservoir Hill or the dining room of a Colonial Revival home in Roland Park, choosing paint colors can be a daunting. Repairing walls to prepare for paint or wallpaper also can prove maddening. Join us in our morning session with Margaret Nelson from Nelson Dorsey Interiors and Janie Reeves from Design 2 Finish to learn how to make paint color choices and choose alternative wall treatments that will enhance your home’s interior and exterior. Discover the use of color in period styles and historically accurate palettes!

paint_workshop_photo_margaret_2-13-13Margaret Nelson, owner and principal designer of Nelson Dorsey Interiors, is the president elect of the Maryland Chapter of the American Association of Interior Designers with loads of color and design experience. Ms. Nelson most recently was honored with an award for her work from Chesapeake Home & Living Magazine.

bio pic 1Janie Reeves discovered her passion for old houses while working on and living in three of them. She is a licensed contractor in PA, MD and VA and has been in the painting and wall finishing business for 25 years. Ms. Reeves is a member of the Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers and has received awards for distinctive wallpapering and decorative painting.

Afternoon Session – Hands-on Introduction to Paint Process with Lawrence Oliva

Lawrence and Karen Dec 2012 A finalCome back after lunch to get even more involved in the painting process with individualized instruction on how to prepare, repair and paint walls with Lawrence Oliva from Second Century Homes. Registration for this session is limited to ensure a hands-on experience for all participants.

Lawrence Oliva is an architectural photographer, writer, and a licensed Maryland contractor with 30 years of restoration experience. He specializes in restoring historic wood elements such as windows, hardwood floors, doors, pediments, mantelpieces, and balustrades to their original elegance and functionality. Mr. Oliva is a partner in Second Century Homes, which specializes in restoring houses over 100 years old. One unique aspect to the company’s renovation approach is to obtain replacement materials directly from Baltimore suppliers – from the original company if they are still in business.