Spring walk in Ashburton (Catonsville, Woodlawn: for sale, crime, houses)

[barante]

A bunch of old guys wanted me to lead them on a walk through Ashburton, a neighborhood that was developed in the 1920s. It initially had covenants prohibiting blacks and Jews. After those covenants expired, the area became perceived as Jewish, which dried up the rest of the white market. After a black principal bought a house there in 1956, white flight ensued. Today the neighborhood is all-black, as far as I know, except for a couple of racially mixed marriages.
I have no idea what the Ashburton prices are like these days, but for lots of years it was a ridiculously cheap alternative to Homeland and Guilford. I'm sure that the market there now is also depressed and the coming months will offer unequaled buying opportunities.
I parked my car on Wabash, at Liberty Heights. As we proceeded on Wabash, we looked at Tudor-influenced rowhouses on th east side and individual Tudor homes on the opposite side. At Sequoia, we turned left and passed rows of homes, some with topiary sculptures. After a while we spotted three 1960s ranchers on the right, one the home of former Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke (now the dean of the Howard University law school in D.C.) Further up, on the left, we came to 3601 Sequoia, a stone rancher that for years was occupied by a demented physician who let the place to go to ruin. The 2,300 square foot house, with a full basement, is now for sale. It will require extensive modernization. It is on the market for $170,000, which is eminently negotiable. Verlena Miller at Long and Fosters handles the property.
At Calloway, we turned left and walked across Liberty Heights, turning left on Forest Park Avenue. We passed modest cottages until we turned right onto Hilton. We immediately stopped at the first mansion, climbing to its portico to admire spectacular view of Lake Ashburton, with the spires of downtown in the background. I bet you can see the Inner Harbor fireworks from there.
The stretch of Hilton until Powhatan is all mansions, in varying condition. At Powhatan, we turned, walking along the lake, which is a reservoir. Old mansions on the opposite side plus three or four newly constructed upscale homes with waterviews. After reaching Longwood, we detoured to look at 3101 Carlisle, the longtime home of William L. (Little Willie) Adams, the city's wealthiest black man (He still is, I think, but is now at Roland Park Place). It's a very modest home by today's standards.
We continued our walk for another 30 minutes, stopping for lunch at Coppin State University's faculty lounge, which is open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. M/F. If you don't want to continue, just turn left back onto Longwood and backtrack on Liberty Heights back to where I parked the car.
This is a wonderful walk. With azaleas in bloom, it should be glorious this weekend.

[carolott]

Barante, I'm dying to read your book, which I'm sure is as interesting as your posts. I love that you walk around all of these neighborhoods, taking note of who lived where and what the houses look like -- it's like having a personal tour guide...yet I'm right here curled up on my couch. Thank you so much!

[Be More]

Awesome stuff

[Woodlands]

I have quite a few friend over in the Ashburton area. Many of them have noted that the petty crimes in the area have increased, but I am told that that is common when the weather get warmer in the City. Their neighborhood association appears very well organized and they also rank high on the "political influence" meter with several current and former elected folks living in the area. Most of the crime occurs in the day when people are at work. These homes sit on nice sized city lots, many have detached garages, which are probably the subjects of periodic thefts. CRIME ALERT: the association noted that neighborhoods should all be aware of solicitors who leave business cards on your vehicles while they are parked at or in front of your home. The thieves monitor how long it takes you to remove the business card from your windshield to get a feel for when you are actually home versus a car that is always in the driveway.

[inaann]

I would LOVE to spend daylight time --however many minutes, hours, or days, walking around lower Park Heights....ANYONE out there who can arrange a SAFE visit for me.????.....I spent the best 15 years of my life there and even though I know I can't go back...I MUST, I Will..SOMEHOW BEFORE i DIE
THANKS,

[Woodlands]

What part of lower park heights????? If you must go, I would recommend during the morning hours and maybe on the Sunday?? I often drive through the area running errands.. going to the new Target or out the Woodlawn/Catonsville Area. I have noticed in Sunday mornings before 10am there are mostly people either going to work, shopping, or church in the area and along the major streets.. some of the side streets where there are numerous vacants could be problematic if you are alone. The later it gets during the day you begin to get an assorted mix of characters along some of the streets...

Another option would be to contact the City...Park Heights is "slated" to be redeveloped in parts over the next several decades. The City has a planner assigned to the area and I am sure that they may/will be giving occasional tours to developers/realtors of city property that they are seeking to redevelop...maybe you can accompany one of these groups when they begin their excursions in the area.