Baltimore: A History, Block by Block

Since 2011, I have been working on a project titled Baltimore: A History, Block by Block. It is an extension of my graduate thesis at MICA, where I photographed every building on Old Town Mall (formerly Gay Street) in East Baltimore, researched the history behind the neighborhood, how it declined, and what is being planned for its future. Currently there are ten main streets in Baltimore that I am photographing. Using a 4x5 view camera and Fujichrome Velvia slide film, I photograph these streets, building by building, block by block. So far I’ve documented over 100 city blocks with over 500 images. I will also be researching the history of individual buildings and blocks as well as overall neighborhood history and finding historic images of what these places used to be. The long-term goal is to publish a series of books along with several exhibitions, ideally in the neighborhoods I’ve been photographing. My goal is to also create a comprehensive, open source digital archive where all of the photographs and research can be accessible and available to the public for free for the future generation.  Through this project I aim to leave the audience not only with a sense of the condition of our city, but also a feeling of urgency to see that it is preserved and improved, and that the rich history behind the architecture and the community is not lost, but rather embraced.                  

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Fresh chromes from the lab!

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Unit block, South Broadway, east side, 2023.

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100 block, South Broadway, east side, 2023.

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800 block, South Broadway, west side, 2023.

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A look at Baltimore’s preservation and planning fiascos | Baltimore Brew

PART 2: “This just keeps happening,” says a local architect, bemoaning the city’s botched attempts to save unique historic buildings that could uplift neighborhoods.

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5-19 West 29th Street, 2022.

I photographed this row about a year ago and it was demolished shortly after this. It’s now a vacant lot or “green space” as described by the owners, Johns Hopkins University. This is a classic case of demolition by neglect. JHU sat on these for over a decade and let them fall apart. Their reason for demolition was that they could not be repaired, which is nonsense. They are currently building at least three new buildings a few blocks away, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t be able to fix up these historic rowhouses on their campus that could’ve been used for housing or offices. Such a waste, but typical of big institutions that own property all over the city and state. Shame on you, JHU!

On a personal note, my great-grand uncle bought and lived in #17 back in 1912. Glad I was at least able to document another piece of my family history in Baltimore.

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Mayfair Theater, 508 North Howard Street, 2009-2022.

A look at the Mayfair over the years. All that remains is the facade and about 30 feet of the lobby space. Supposedly a developer will be incorporating the facade into an apartment complex that will fill the rest of the lot and the adjacent lot on the corner. Hope it works out!

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416-426 North Howard Street, 2010-2022.

 A look at the changes through the year. I’d like to re-photograph both sides of this block at some point, as most of it has been rehabbed.

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1500 block, Harford Avenue, 2022.

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Expired chromes fresh from Canada. Thanks @e6it_lab ! #bmoreblockbyblock #baltimore #e6 #fujichrome #velvia #4x5 #viewcamera #film #expiredfilm #architecture #color #composition #perspective #light #shadow #contrast https://www.instagram.com/p/ConMSCxJ3Pu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Been a while. Due for a deep clean. Still holding on strong, minus the stolen panel… @ianmacleandavis #bromobox #howardstreet #baltimore #bromoartsdistrict #mayfairtheatre #historic #history #bmorehistoric #installation https://www.instagram.com/p/CnDY56lJDGP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jsingewald]

Merry Xmas from the Apollo in East Baltimore! #bmoreblockbyblock #baltimore #eastbaltimore #apollo #appollotheatre #historic #bmorehistoric #architecture #4x5 #viewcamera #early #xmas https://www.instagram.com/p/CmmA9WjO32Q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Had a few sheets of film to shoot, the last of my Velvia, so I got the 1500 block of Harford Rd/Ave, and revisited these three places on Howard Street, where my project officially started in 2010-11, after grad school. I love the empty streets on a cold holiday morning! Happy Holidays! #bmoreblockbyblock #baltimore #howardstreet #architecture #photography #4x5 #viewcamera #historic #bmorehistoric #film #light #color #composition #perspective #time #changes #early https://www.instagram.com/p/CmmKukNuE3S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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People always ask why there are so many vacant houses in Baltimore. This article, or rather, study, sheds light on the problem. "Dead people. Ghost companies. Foreign investors."

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/real-estate/baltimore-carrollton-ridge-vacant-homes-E4NFOFLBBNAJFIMRRGNHY6NE5E/