City Considers Assessing Roland Water Tower for Sale

UPDATE (8 a.m. Wednesday)—The Roland Water Tower is one of 15 landmarks Baltimore is considering selling or leasing.

The Board of Estimates will consider entering into an agreement with Westholm and Associates on Wednesday to assess the landmarks to see what improvements are needed, and if the city can generate any revenue from the properties, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

For years, surrounding communities have been trying to develop a plan to preserve the water tower and develop a park surrounding it. Supporters have held , and have been to save the tower.

Currently, asking for $250,000 for the tower is under consideration by the Maryland General Assembly.

Phil Spevak, president of the Roland Park Civic League responded to the news in an email to Patch:

The City recently informed RP of its plans to perform a market analysis of multiple historic structures including the Roland Water Tower and we are cooperating with the City and their consultant in their analysis as it pertains to the Tower.  In fact, there is an ongoing, very effective multi-community private/public partnership at work to save the Tower and to create a beautiful surrounding community park.  Leaving the tower as it is, rimmed by barbed wire and in disrepair is not in the interest of the neighborhood nor the City.

We have emphasized that while the tower will not be a major income generator, the reason to save the tower is its historic significance and the value of creating a community park adjacent to this iconic structure.  There is economic value to the City of creating such beautiful spaces and in saving important historic structures.

The tower was built between 1904 and 1905, but was out of service by 1930 when Baltimore switched to a reservoir system to provide water for its residents.