Howard County Executive Ball hopes to avoid Ellicott City demolition

Listen to this article

Heather Beck, wearing a knit cap and a large scarf, leaned on her crutches outside of Sweet Elizabeth Jane on Main Street in Ellicott City on a sunny early winter afternoon and talked about the future of her hometown.

The lifelong Ellicott City resident, who now lives near Main Street on the other side of the rail bridge emblazoned with the town name, worries about the safety of her 5-year-old son, herself, and others. She refuses to walk by the structures on the south side of the street starting at the former Caplan’s Department Store building in the 8100 block.

“We walk the street every day, and they’re not safe for us to walk by, so that’s what I worry about most, besides the flood that could happen tomorrow, or the snow, or anything else that could sit on top of the buildings that could make them fall, immediately,” Beck said with a nervous laugh.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on Thursday discussed the first phase of his administration’s plan to prevent more deaths and damage from flooding in Ellicott City. A plan seeking alternatives to demolishing properties, like the Caplan’s building.

Ball’s “Safe and Sound” plan represents a shift from a proposal backed by his predecessor, which called for razing 5 percent of the buildings in the historic retail district.

“We must make sure we’re not using a sledgehammer when only a scalpel is necessary,” Ball said.

Twice since 2016 Ellicott City’s Main Street, which dates back to the 1770s, was pummeled by deadly flooding, which caused millions of dollars in damage to buildings and businesses.

Former Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman released a plan in August for 10 commercial buildings on Main Street, roughly from the Caplan’s building to Maryland Avenue, to be torn down.

That plan involved purchasing some properties to raze them, and it overall was projected to cost between $40 million and $50 million.

Ball, a Democrat elected in November, raised doubts about the plan Kittleman, a Republican, and former County Councilman Jon Weinstein, a Democrat who lost his primary election, supported.

Ball said his administration will honor previous offers to property owners and negotiate in good faith to purchase buildings. Structural engineers will then assess them to determine their stability and integrity. Buying those buildings is only “the first step,” Ball said, and the county will consider all options for the properties, including demolition.

Beyond the demolition issue, Ball directed the county’s Office of Emergency Management to develop a scheme to bolster the county’s alert system with new technologies. That may include improving audio and visual warning systems and creating a real time information systems to augment targeted warnings for specific areas.

“We want the businesses, residents, and visitors to Ellicott City to have as much warning and direction during inclement weather (as possible),” Ball said.

Under Ball’s plan the county will clear debris from waterways more frequently to deter flooding. Currently, area streams and rivers are inspected quarterly or semi-annually.

Department of Public Works employees will now inspect nine waterways within three business days of severe weather. Those employees will start clearing debris within with 14 business days of a storm. Residents will be able to track that removal on a public “dashboard” planned to launch next year.

The first phase of Ball’s new plan also creates a county pilot program with $150,000 to pay for flood mitigation projects on certain properties. Buildings in Old Ellicott City, Valley Meade and Dunloggin can receive up to $5,000 per project for flood mitigating upgrades.

Additionally Ball ordered the Howard County Economic Development Authority to dedicate a full-time employee as Main Street ombudsman. The ombudsman will promote tourism, and help businesses recover.

His administration, Ball said, will work with state lawmakers to pass two pieces of legislation in the upcoming session.

One bill, to be introduced by Del.-elect Courtney Watson and Sen.-elect Katie Fry Hester, calls for recapitalizing Maryland’s Comprehensive Flood Management Grant Program to provide money for mitigation projects in Ellicott City and around the state.

The second bill makes those projects eligible for money from the state’s Bay Restoration Fund. Ball said his administration is considering backing a bill allowing access to private properties during an emergency to clear county waterways.

“When these devastating floods happened here in Ellicott City we heard immediately from elected officials and colleagues from around the state offering help. We now need your help, and we’re not going to be afraid to go to Annapolis to also ask for your votes on these important pieces of legislation,” Ball said.

As Ball walked by, leaving Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant where he briefed reporters, Beck wished the executive well. She’s still worried about the safety of the historic buildings Ball hopes to preserve. But she remained diplomatic when asked if the structures should be razed.

“I have a lot of hope for Ellicott City’s safety. I’m hopeful to see what happens. I have a lot of thoughts about it. I’d rather just see wait and see what goes on, and focus on issues as I have to for the safety of my son first and foremost, but certainly the town itself,” she said.