The signatories of this petition are opposed to the immediate acceptance and implementation of the proposed plan by the Howard County Government to demolish several buildings at the south end of Main Street in the Ellicott City National Register Historic District.

Thousands of Ellicott City, Howard County, and Maryland residents have voiced their concerns about the proposed plan because it does not adequately address the cause of flooding nor the impact of the flood on the whole of Ellicott City.

In response to the County’s assertions that their current plan is the only viable way forward, Preservation Maryland, Maryland’s first and largest historic preservation non-profit organization, released a special report with alternatives to demolition, including legitimate and prudent examples from communities that have faced similar perils to life and property and have successfully balanced life safety and historic preservation.

The community has also noted that the process by which this proposal, specifically the proposed demolition of the historic structures, was researched and released has lacked transparency and public input from the community that it will fundamentally and forever transform. 

The demolition of these historic buildings was not considered a viable option by the comprehensive Ellicott City Hydrology/Hydraulic Study conducted by McCormick Taylor in 2017. Curiously absent from the County’s current plan are several recommendations suggested by the same study that would significantly reduce flood water levels and velocity on Main Street without the need for demolition in the historic district.

While the safety and health of the Ellicott City residents is tantamount, the drastic demolition plan laid out by Howard County leadership demands greater clarity.

This petition calls on the Howard County Government to undertake a full and robust consideration of other viable options for flood mitigation, such as those in the McCormick Taylor study, and potential demolition in the Main Street community, including plans related to the economic, historic, and hydrological impact, before an irreversible decision is made.