In a move toward more waterfront development in South Baltimore, the city plans to condemn and demolish seven houses and three businesses surrounding Swann Park.

Swann Park has been closed for a year now, when decades-old documents detailing the dangerous arsenic levels in the park were turned over to the city. This summer, arsenic hot spots will be removed and the park will be covered with an additional 2 feet of soil to cover the remaining arsenic dust.

In addition to a cleaned-up and reopened park, development plans for the area include hundreds of new residences and over a million square feet of retail and office space, possibly including a new headquarters for Under Armour.

Although the city’s Planning Commission opposes the condemnations, the city may likely ignore this recommendation, as the current proposal before the City Council still includes the demolition plans. Residents also oppose the condemnations, worried that they will not receive a fair price for their homes. The city has said that they will use the power of eminent domain if needed.

There are stalled projects all over the city right now. Can Baltimore support more development in this market? And more importantly, should they support it when the costs include forcibly removing residents?

An aside: According to a report released by the city on Friday, part of the reason the arsenic contamination wasn’t cleaned out of the park for 30+ years was because the Maryland Department of the Environment lacked the proper funding and staff.

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