CAMBRIDGE, Md. — The city of Cambridge says it's ramping up pressure on the owner of a historic downtown building to take action.
The former school building at 201 Mill Street, which the city says is almost 125 years old, has sat vacant for nearly 30 years. Holes in the roof and boarded-up windows have made the building an eyesore for neighbors, city leaders say.
The property is privately owned by Bret Davis of Davis Strategic Development LLC, a company that renovates properties across the Eastern Shore. Davis declined an on-camera interview but told WBOC his company is in the process of developing the property into eight units and is working with the city.
City Commissioner Brett Summers, who represents the area, said the developer has owned the building for about four years. He said some neighbors were initially excited when Davis bought the property with plans to convert it into apartments, but little visible progress towards this plan followed.
He says it is the city’s responsibility to make sure that city codes are being enforced and complied with by the owner.
"The city is putting pressure on the owner to activate this building, either sell it or renovate it, which is what the neighbors want to see, what the city of Cambridge wants to see. Our goal is to get rid of blight neglect in our community. This is a prime example of that. It's been this way for 30 years plus," Summers said. “...I think codes help [in] not allowing an owner to allow demolition by neglect. You know, just neglecting a historic structure, allowing it to deteriorate to the point it has to be torn down. I think codes protect these historic structures from that type of neglect.”
Summers said the city has discussed having a separate tax rate on vacant, uninhabitable properties such as this property. He said while no ordinance has been passed, this tax rate would make it more financially painful for people to sit on these types of properties.
“Due to their condition, their assessed values are typically a little bit lower than neighboring properties that are well maintained,” Summers said. “...So therefore, their annual taxes are relatively low…So if you put a four multiplier on the current tax rate, then you're starting to have these owners pay a tax that's comparable to a fully renovated, or well maintained property.”
John Ondrick, who has lived next door to the former school for about 30 years, said the former school has been an eyesore ever since he moved into his house.
"I think it is very frustrating because you look over there every day and you see nothing is getting done. Getting the grass mowed, they had to put up a real stink to do, the roof leaks. Just basic repairs to keep it functional are not getting done. And so you have just obsolescence by design," Ondrick said.
City Manager Glenn Steckman said the city is preparing to discuss abatement issues with the owner of the building. Abatement is a process that would give the city authority to make repairs to the building itself, with the cost billed back to the owner.
"Right now the city's approach is going to push abatement issues on the building, get the roof fixed, get the windows repaired and what other else needs to be done to make sure the building looks like it's cared for in the neighborhood," Steckman said. “...We were hoping for them to get more completed, and all work has seemed to cease…So if the property owner moves and can fix up the outside of the building and secure the interior from future rain, the city is satisfied with that. But we just can't let, leave the building to deteriorate. It becomes demolition by neglect.”
Steckman said the city has been working with the owner for more than a year to get movement on the building's issues, and officials expect to meet with the owner within the next two weeks.
