We’re Still Here…and So Is the Spooky House

Given that I’m writing this at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday, May 22, it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for the Second Coming.

Generally speaking, this is a good thing—I appreciate the opportunity to spend more time with my kids. On the downside, though, I’ll still have to look at that unbelievable eyesore affectionately known as the “spooky house” that sits (crumbling) at the corner of Edgewood Road and Route 1 in north College Park every time I drive to work. I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready for anything to take that thing down, be it a wrecking ball or divine intervention.

As many of you know, the property across the street from the spooky house—4703—will soon be replaced by Hollywood Gateway Park (I wrote about that ), which I understand is still in the design phase.

Yet, regardless of how you feel about Hollywood Gateway Park, you have to agree that, once the park is built, the spooky house will look even more terrible, thereby making our community look even worse to visitors than it already does.

So what to do about it? I’d like to suggest that the city consider the use of eminent domain. After all, as recently reported on Patch, the city has considered (but ultimately decided against) using eminent domain to purchase , a building that has also been called an eyesore.

Yes, the use of eminent domain has its critics (especially in ), but if we’re talking eyesores, the spooky house is a far more aesthetically offensive than the aforementioned liquor store.

Further, whereas the liquor store seems to be a thriving business, the spooky house looks as if it hasn’t thrived in quite some time, except as, maybe, a place for squatters (note the open windows allowing for easy access in the photos).

Some time ago, before the recession, I heard that it was going to be converted into an office building—looks like that didn’t happen, either. Then again, those of us waiting patiently for someone to save us from this architectural sin shouldn’t really be all that surprised that the property remains unsold. Like 4703 across the street, the spooky house is in a bad spot and has little commercial appeal (obviously). Hemmed in by Route 1, the Beltway, and the frequently backed-up Edgewood Road (especially during rush hour), trying to get in and out of that place during the workweek would be nothing short of hellish.

Religious puns aside, if the city is really interested in creating additional greenspace along Route 1—one of the reasons given for acquiring No. 1 Liquors—I’d like to propose that the city consider acquiring the spooky house (and then do the same for all the other vacant, crumbling propeties on Route 1). After all, if the corner of Route 1 and Edgewood Road is really the “gateway” to north College Park, then this “gate” has two doors—and so far we’ve only got plans to fix one of them.

Smith is a resident of north College Park. He blogs at ncpinformant.com (occasionally) and you can follow him on Twitter: @smithflap.