Endangered Maryland 2009

7. THE MECHANIC THEATRE As a large part of the re-development of the Charles Center in Baltimore (and of live theater in the city), as well as because of its style of architecture, the Mechanic Theatre should be landmarked, not reused, say advocates of saving the structure located at Charles and Baltimore streets. Even if it is ugly. The 1,614-seat concrete box built in 1967 that is the Mechanic Theatre has stood empty since 2004, as it made way for the nearby 2,286-seat Hippodrome Theatre. In 2005, Arrow Parking owners Benjamin and Melvin Greenwald purchased the Mechanic for $6 million. They have partnered with a firm to create a mixed-use, 33-story, high-rise with streetlevel retail within the theater’s interior. Architects Karen Lewand, executive director of the American Institute of Architects, and Peter Doo, president of Doo Consulting LLC, were dismayed that the Baltimore City Department of Planning declined to endorse landmark status for the theater, especially since it is one of the few surviving examples of angular and blocky Brutalist architecture in Baltimore—little of which exists in Charm City, despite its popularity elsewhere and its significant history in American architecture. The two believe that while all parties involved have stated they’d like to preserve and reuse the building, the only real protection is landmark designation, especially in this economic climate. While preservationists fear that redevelopment will ruin this part of the cityscape, others who live and work downtown have publicly endorsed the redevelopment. Calls for comment to Benjamin Greenwald were not returned.

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10 New Sites Worth Saving Endangered Maryland 2009 Meet the Endangered Maryland Selection Committee 1. Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead 2. Falkland Apartments 3. Friendship Hall Linwood Village 4. Handsell 5. High Winds Gun Club 7. The Mechanic Theatre 8. Mount Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church 9. St. Patrick's Catholic Church 10. Upton Mansion Historical Community Awards Endangered Maryland 2008 Update

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