A recent column concerning the city of Baltimore's announced decision to sue me, individually, and other citizens was grossly misleading and incomplete. It failed to mention some important information that would reveal that there's another side to this story.
The article claimed that the Canton Urban Renewal Plan requires that a land-based promenade be installed along the harbor. In fact, the only obligation set forth in the Urban Renewal Plan is that the promenade be "permanent." The floating promenade is, and always was, intended to be permanent and the city has acknowledged this on many occasions. As early as 1997, when the floating promenade was first installed, the city acknowledged in writing that the floating promenade was a "substitute" for a land-based promenade.
This was reconfirmed in 2002 in the form of a written agreement by which the city agreed that as long as the floating promenade remained in service, the developer had no obligation to install a promenade on land. This has never been amended.
The Moorings project was constructed at a time when this agreement was in place with the city. The city signed off on the construction of The Moorings, knowing that no promenade had been constructed on the land, and the city allowed the current owners to purchase their properties without informing them that they might later be sued in order to install the promenade on their property. As recently as 2007, the city admitted in writing to the developer that the floating promenade complied with the Urban Renewal Plan. For some unexplained reason, the city now wishes to go back on its word.
Moreover, the city has refused to accept my offer, at no cost to the city, to replace the current floating promenade with a new, spectacular floating promenade that is paved with a brick-like finish and in all other respects resembles other portions of the promenade. Without question, the new floating promenade would enhance immeasurably the existing promenade with its over-water uniqueness, already enjoyed by so many. Anyone wishing to see the design of the proposed new floating promenade is invited to visit http://www.rebuildtheprom.com.
Baltimore is known for the unique character of its people, its neighborhoods and its architecture. The floating promenade exemplifies this uniqueness by allowing people to stroll, jog or ride their bikes right on top of the water. In recent days, many people have come forward expressing their fondness for this special feature, and the sadness that they will feel if the city has its way and forces the floating promenade to be destroyed.
Why the city would choose this course remains a mystery, as much of a mystery as why it would insist on destroying green space unnecessarily, or why it would devote scarce tax resources going back on its word and suing the taxpayers who fund this city instead of investing those resources in police, firefighters or teachers.
It's time for the city to stop telling the wrong story about the floating promenade and realize that different is not bad. It's time for the city to recognize that spending money needlessly when it has a budget crisis is bad.
The city has before it a unique opportunity to receive, for free, a new, modern and truly magnificent floating promenade that will be an asset to the harbor for generations of Baltimoreans. Does the city now have the vision to reach out and accept this, or will it continue down the destructive path of suing its own citizens in pursuit of a case that it will likely lose?
Dr. Selvin Passen is a homeowner at and an original development partner of The Moorings. His e-mail is selvinpassen@yahoo.com.