Nov 20, 2008 8:15 pm US/Eastern
Mt. Vernon Association Opposes 7-Eleven
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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The intersection of Charles and Washington Streets could soon become home to a 7-Eleven convenience store.
CBS
There's controversy in the heart of Baltimore's cultural and historical district. A neighborhood association is fighting to stop a convenience store from moving in.
Derek Valcourt got reaction from community members.
Just a stone's throw from museums and historic homes and right in the shadow of Baltimore's Washington Monument, is where a new store may be planted. A long vacant building at the intersection of Charles and Washington Streets could soon become home to a 7-Eleven convenience store. That doesn't sit well with some in the neighborhood.
"This is a historical neighborhood. To have something like that and then be open 24-hours and you have all kinds of people coming back, to me it's just not going to work," said one resident.
A 7-Eleven spokesperson confirms it wants to lease the building.
"Our intent is to bring a vibrant and necessary business to this part of town and to long-time residents," said Margaret Chabris, spokesperson for 7-Eleven.
"I would kind of like it myself," said Toni Artist, resident.
But the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association disagrees. They're scrambling to find ways to stop 7-Eleven from coming, including buying or leasing the property themselves.
"It would be a shame for anything else too commercial to be there. This neighborhood is too cute for that," said Becca Orchard.
More than a dozen condos sit on top of the now gutted ground floor unit, which 7-Eleven says is already zoned by the city in their favor.
Greg Friedman with AGM Real Estate which owns the property says 7-Eleven would benefit the community and told
Eyewitness News, "I already made a personal commitment to the residents above to do my best to avoid any uses involving alcohol, and I have tried my hardest to keep that pledge. We have passed on those opportunities at significant cost to us."
For its part AGM won't comment on when they could finalize any potential deal with 7-Eleven. Some in the neighborhood say they hear it could happen as early as this week or perhaps next week, and that doesn't give them a lot of time to do much to stop it.
The Mount Vernon Belvedere Association has already reached out to the Peabody Institute for financial assistance to stop the 7-Eleven from coming, but Peabody says at this time they are not able to help.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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