Future convenience store in Mt. Vernon faces controversy
Idyllic Mount Vernon Place, home to the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, the Walters Art museum and the striking neo-Gothic United Methodist church, could soon have a new neighbor.
The owner of the now vacant property on the corner of Charles and Center streets has entered into an agreement to lease the property for 35 years to 7-Eleven.
While Peabody students may relish the idea of having a 3 a.m.-taquito just a short walk away, some in the community fear that it will be a detriment to both the historic character and overall security of the area.
But the owner of the property, Gregory Friedman, asserted that it would provide essential services to seniors living at a nearby senior center and additionally be a great convenience to Peabody students.
"We continue to want to put what's best for the community within the space, the community organization does not necessarily speak for the whole community," Friedman said.
The proposed 24-hour 7-Eleven would become the only retail establishment within Mt. Vernon Place, one of only four areas in Maryland to have been designated as a National Historic Landmark District. From an economic standpoint, this troubles many residents of the area.
"Its low end use, an indication that you are dealing at bottom of economic chain," Paul Warren, chair of the Development and Zoning Committee for the Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association, said. "[This development is] emblematic of economic times. A prime location like that, you would look to get a high end use. 7-Eleven is not high end retail."
The Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association initiated an emergency fundraising drive in an attempt to buy the property from the current owner after the plans to locate a 7-Eleven became known.
According to Warren, his association was able to raise $300 thousand in three weeks and made an offer of $450 thousand for the property which was turned down by the owner.
Of the money raised by the community association, $93 thousand came from cash-strapped Baltimore City, which Warren took as an indication that those outside the community see the proposed development as potentially detrimental to the community.
The owner of the now vacant property on the corner of Charles and Center streets has entered into an agreement to lease the property for 35 years to 7-Eleven.
While Peabody students may relish the idea of having a 3 a.m.-taquito just a short walk away, some in the community fear that it will be a detriment to both the historic character and overall security of the area.
But the owner of the property, Gregory Friedman, asserted that it would provide essential services to seniors living at a nearby senior center and additionally be a great convenience to Peabody students.
"We continue to want to put what's best for the community within the space, the community organization does not necessarily speak for the whole community," Friedman said.
The proposed 24-hour 7-Eleven would become the only retail establishment within Mt. Vernon Place, one of only four areas in Maryland to have been designated as a National Historic Landmark District. From an economic standpoint, this troubles many residents of the area.
"Its low end use, an indication that you are dealing at bottom of economic chain," Paul Warren, chair of the Development and Zoning Committee for the Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association, said. "[This development is] emblematic of economic times. A prime location like that, you would look to get a high end use. 7-Eleven is not high end retail."
The Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association initiated an emergency fundraising drive in an attempt to buy the property from the current owner after the plans to locate a 7-Eleven became known.
According to Warren, his association was able to raise $300 thousand in three weeks and made an offer of $450 thousand for the property which was turned down by the owner.
Of the money raised by the community association, $93 thousand came from cash-strapped Baltimore City, which Warren took as an indication that those outside the community see the proposed development as potentially detrimental to the community.
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