Leaders Divided Over Initial Draft

By Mark J. Adams

    Two groups of community leaders want to create a comprehensive master plan for Greektown and not all of the residents are happy about it.

    After several months of meetings, a loosely formed group known as the GreektownBayview Development Initiative has circulated a first draft of a development plan for an area that begins at Highlandtown on the East and follows Eastern Avenue to the mammoth Hopkins Bayview Campus.

    The draft plan, prepared by the planning consulting firm of Allison Platt & Associates, calls for designation of the community as a historic district and would impose design guidelines for the exterior appearance of commercial buildings in the area, which is the historic home to Baltimore's large Greek-American community. The plan also calls for creation of a rail stop at Hopkins Bayview and for extensive controls over development in the area. Under the plan, businesses in the commercial area would have to maintain a uniform, blue and white appearance. Artists' lofts and additional restaurants are envisioned for the Crown, Cork & Seal building, near the railroad bridge.

    The development group has been spearheaded by State Senator Perry Sfikas (D, 46th) and includes representatives of various community organizations and officers of Dome Real Estate, Inc., the for-profit wing of Johns Hopkins Hospital, according to Dome Vice President David 0. Hash.

    The development initiative's work has coincided with a broader planning effort being attempted by Southeast Community Organization and its affiliate, Southeast Development Initiative (SECO/SDI). SECO/SDI wants to create comprehensive plans for all areas in the Eastern Avenue and Broadway corridors, covering an area from Little Italy to I95. The SECO/SDI planning process would include Hopkins' main campus as well as the Bayview facility, formerly known as City Hospitals.

    One of Greektown's most prominent leaders has quickly gone on record as opposing the planning effort. In a sharply worded letter to Dome Real Estate's Hash, Circuit Court Judge John C. Themelis said that the plan shows a "total disregard for Greek culture, work ethic, pride and individualism." Themelis is particularly taken aback by the draft plan's suggestion that development matters in the community be controlled by a SECO/SDI, which would be designated as a "Community Development Corporation."

    "There is no need for a 'CDC' except to allow Dome or some other entity to control the area," said Themelis, adding, ."I doubt there is any real and substantial evidence of successes in other parts of Baltimore City by SDI or any other CDC."

    Themelis' letter, which has been broadly circulated in the Greek American community, also takes issue with the plan's proposal for designation of a Greektown Historic District. "With the wrong historical council in place, owners will be prevented from doing many renovations without their permission." If the neighborhood were designated as a Historic District, property owners would have to receive permission from the City for any alterations to the outside of their buildings. The draft plan proposes that grants be given to property owners to help them make historically correct alterations. Hopkins' property would be excluded from the historic district.

    Themelis' letter also indicates distrust of Hopkins and Dome. "Clearly, the Plan benefits primarily the Hospital and only indirectly benefits the community, subject to great restrictions by "SDI" or some other "Community Development Corporation," as further limited by a "Historical District" designation for "Greektown." He points to plans to complete the interchange at 1-895 and Lombard Street with an exit leading into the hospital as a provision that "benefits only the hospital."

    Themelis said that his position on the development issue is supported by George Perdikakis and Father Burdisi, President and Priest at St. Nicholas' congregation. St. Nicholas' has 1,500 members. The church has been one the first stopping places for generations of immigrants from Greece and its influence is considerable in Baltimore's large Greek American community.

    Although Themelis'letter did not represent the official position of any organization, he is one of the most visible leaders in a community that is known for rugged individualism and ambitious entrepreneurs. Sources have told THE INDEPENDENT that Themelis and other community leaders are organizing opposition to the proposed plan. Ironically, the plan's chief proponent, Sfikas, is one of the Greek American community's favorite sons.

    Dome Real Estate's Hash indicated that such opposition may be premature. He described the draft plan as "a work in progress" and said that it would be discussed in greater detail at public meetings to be held throughout the community. St. Nicholas, he said, would be included in the process.

    "The Greek Church is one of the strongest institutions in the community," said Hash. Regarding Themclis' suspicion of Hopkins' motives, Hash said "Hopkins is taking a much more active role than in the past to help community redevelopment efforts."

    The Greektown-Bayview planning effort closely follows SECO/SDI's effort to update and amend the Highlandtown Urban Renewal Plan, which expired last month. A new plan passed the City Council after a series of community meetings where some business owners objected to restrictive codes for facades of commercial buildings. After heated debate about the restrictions proposed by SECO/ SDI and the Highlandtown Merchants' Association, a watered-down plan passed the City Council, but was quickly rejected by the City Law Office. An amended version of the bill passed last month and now awaits the Mayor's signature. At present, the Highlandtown area is not covered by an Urban Renewal Plan.